The village of Mariendorpt. A tale

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K HUGO PAUL TMIEA\E 11

1914 — 15^40

HIK

3 IXHE UNIVER SI TY OF /v\[Gf!LGiAN J

Ni\\^^v^^v^ v^V

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*.

THE

VILLAGE

OF

MARIENDORPT.

VOL.IIL

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Fruited by A. and R. Spottiswt)ode^
Printers- Street London.

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THE

VILLAGE

OP

MARIE ND ORPT.

A TALE.

BY

Miss ANNA MARIA PORTER,

AUTHOR or THE PAST OP 8T. MAODALBN, KNIGHT OP ST. JOHN»
&ۥ &C. &C.

My son! My son!
Do I behold thy face ? Ob» fold thine arms
Around met clasp me to thy bosom » lean
Thy thmk 'gainst my fond cheek, and shade my breast
With the thick ringlets of thy clustering hair !

What shall I say to thee, — how tell thee all ?

PoTTBB's Euripides,

w

IN FOUR VOLUMES.
VOL. III.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN^ HURST, REES, ORME, i\ND BROWN>
FATEBNOSTEB-BOW.

1821.

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I

J

n>

VILLAGE'

OF

kARIENDORPT.

^

CHAPTER I.

When Meeta saw Rupert again, it was
after his return from Mr. Vanderhoven's,
whither he had gone with Aremberg, to
appease the trouble of Father Joachim,
at the prospect of new inmates. Happily
Madame Roselheim was not present.

Meeta was standing in the centre of
the pirlour, resting her fatigued spirits
on one inject of thought,^ for hitherto
many had distracted them, — when she'
heard the ap|>roaching voices of her

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9f THE VILLAGE

father arid Rupert : as though the nature
of her sad reverie might be guessed at,
from her very position, she ran to a seat,
and began working upon some lace which
she had destined long ago, for one of
those falling collars then worn by young
men, instead of the stifier ruff; and had
purposed miaking a farewell present of, to
her adopted brother^ Haste and confu-
sion painted her Tace with its liveliest
carnations, and her heart beat so vio-
lently, that it made her hands tremulous :
but when she heard her father turn back
in the passage, and Rupert about to en-
ter the room alone, the blood all at
once deserted her cheeks, and an icy-
coldness took possession of her whole
frame. Unlike her usual habit, she did
not turn round to welcome him as he
entered. After waiting a moment or
two for such notice, yet not advancing,
Rupert said with his customary dieerful-
ness,

** You are wonderously busy with those

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OF MARIEKDOBPT. O

lace-bobbins, Meeta ; what is it you are
making?"

He had to repeat his question before
Meeta found voice to answer. *< A little
present for— -Mr. Aremberg, 1 think
I intend it for " —

" 'You cannot employ those pretty
fingers for a better person, or a truer
friend.!** was Rupert's frank exclamation,
coming up to her, and examining her
manufacture; then re-commencing with
a little archness, *< I hope you are not in
his uncle's plot against my poor friend's
heart ! or that if you ar^, you mean to
be honest with him : — to take, and give,
Meeta?"

« 1 don't understand you !" exclaimed
Meeta, with real unconsciousness of his
meaning, yet averting her head with a
confusion that seemed to say otherwise.

«^ Come, come, don't affect ignorance j"
resumed Rupert, in the same light strain ;
" Mr. Vanderhoven's wish is pretty obvi-
ous ; and if I were not silly enough to like
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« THE YIIXAGE

my friend all the better for his ccm-
stancy to the meinoiy <^ poor £ustatia»
I should wish the same for him too —
of course. But what is the matter, you
are so pale?*' he added, catching a full
view of her face, « I thought nothing
could rob you of your colour. Has any
thing happened to distress you, dearest
Meeta !" His voice all at once changed
from a tone of careless gaiety, to one of
the extremest tenderness, and he took
her hand, while speakingi witji a manner
which might be that of a fond brother }—
but to Meeta, at this thrilling instant, it
seemed more than that. Not daring to
encounter his eyes, which she felt were
now fixed with concern and surprise upon
the vanishing apparitions of her com-
plexion, she snatched a hyacinth out of
her breast, saying she was foolish to
wear a flower tnat was notorious for giv*
ing sick head-aches.

A silence of a few seconds ensued :
of what nature Rupert's thoughts were,

OP MAIUISNBOIIPT. S

while he noticed the extraordinary fluc*
' tuations of her cdlour, perhaps he could
not have defined himself; but ker feel-
ings were distinct and unmixed. She
could not bear that Rupert should fancy
it possible for her ever to love another
than him ; yet .would she have shrunk
with horror from the assurance that
such a feeling implied a desire that he
should know she was indifferent to all
men for his sake*.

After i^ome ineffectual efforts to break
their embarrassing silence, she was at
last able to say, " she hoped he would
believe that she admired constancy to
a first attachment, as much as he
could do, and that Mr. Aremberg was
therefore the last person she should wish
to attract."

Rupert who was still holding the hand
he had taken, felt it tremble so^ as it
now struggled out of his, and saw the
colour so completely disappear from her
very lips, that he fancied he had utterly
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t) THE VILLAGE

mistaken the nature of her regard for his'
friend, and he began therefore to say
something that might effi^ce the discour-
aging impression made by his last words.
Some of his own composure vanished
while doing this; and he sought in
vain for the phrases proper to revive
Meeta's hopes, without exciting in hfr
the fear of having such hopes guessed
at.

Whatever he did say^ was not what he
ought to have said; nor indeed was it
spoken, as tlie disinterested friend of
both parties might have been expected
to speak. Meeta's trepidation increased
with this appearance of disturbance In
him ; and, ere she was aware, she found
thbt she had uttered so strong a protest
against having any design whatever up-
on the heart of Aremberg, that Rupert's
hasty alarm evidently ceased, and the
light of some powerful expressions shone
so suddenly and so brightly in his coun«
tenance, that she felt she ought to turn

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OP MABIENDCMElPTi 7

her eyes from it now, 9b4 ^er thoughts
from it hereafter. The geftti^ counte-
nance of Madame Roselheim seemed at
that instant to interpose itself between
them, reproaching her by the te^rs in
which it was bathed, for this guilty thrill
of love's first belief of full return. Meeta
was in despair at her own feebleness;
but forcibly rallying her powers, and af-
fecting vivacity, she said, laughing

«* After this impertinent protest^ you
may be sure Cupid will have his re«-
venge, and I shall be punished for my
indifierence to Mr. Aremberg% by
fsdling in love with some handsome foplt
or polished knave. But here I stay talk-
ing nonsense to yout when I have a
hundred useful things to do elsewhere ;
so I commend you to your own good
company till we meet again.'' So say-
ing, with the same wretched air of levity
she had assume^ at the beginnii^ of her
speech, she flew away, with a heart to
which that of a condemned wretch is
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8 . THE VILLAGE

]]ght and joyous, and a head, that would
have welcomed the sentence which was
to strike and end its throbbing pain.

Meeta did not leave Rupert, for the
sake of indulging in vain and culpable
emotions of pleasure. If the speakiiig
illumination of a single look were to be
trusted, she felt that he was not unmoved
by the assurance of her sentiments to-
wards his friend : yet the lively satisfac-
tion he evinced, might arise solely from
his avowed respect for every proof of con-
stancy of character. To her cooler reason,
that seemed the realcase,but why then was
there siich unusual tenderness in his look ?
Why did his eye, as it fixed upon her in
wistful observation, melt into an expres-
siop she had never seen there before?-
But was such an expression there ? or
was it fancied? Meeta blushed at her
presumptuous folly, which had too surely
given the colour of its own wishes, to
what was in reality of a different hue ;
and conscious, from tTiis momentary

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OP MAlilENBORPT. 9

{hrob of transport, Jiow fatal the admis<*
sion ofwthe smallest hope would prove to
her well-principled determination, she
resolutely refused to hear, or to look on
It agaip. '

After thig(^ davv^ she was indeed com-
pletely mistress of herself j perhaps a
salutary pride, better termed delicacy,
enabled her to command the feeling she
pould not as yet extirpate, (for nothing
in Rupert revived the recollection of his
momentary emotion,) and even Madame
Roselheim's solicitously-observing eye
could but dimly perceive through her
admirable veil of animated interest in the
preparations for Adolpha's reception, the
ceaseless struggles of regret and reason.

Rupert's invariable kindness, from its
openness and calmness, assisted Meeta's
laudable effort of self-government; so
that perpetually refreshed in mental
strength, by the conviction that his aftv^
fection for her was purely of a brotherly
sort, she was so guarded in his presence^

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10 THE VtLLAOfi

as to deceive tiie penetration of Madame
Roselheim^ and make her hope that the
Bpark she had timely trodden out, had
indeed been but a spark.

Madame Roselheim, in truth, needed
no additional sources of anxiety. She
had those of her son's healthy and con*
sequent delay of promotion ; her longing
to ascertain the nature agd degree of his
hopes about Adolpha ;^and her^^m sick-
ening desire for Juli£a's rest^oion to
his parents. Every day rendered that
interesting child more dear to her. When
he should leave them, slie was conscious
that both she and Rupert would feel as
though a limb were torn from them :
since once removed, once separate, all
intercourse must cease between the
brothers. It were better, therefore, that
the little creature should depart, ere he
had taught her quite to forget that any
blood mingled in his veins with that of
Rhinegravestein. His tender age, his
winning caresses, his gentle sports v^ere

{ 'if^.:

09 MAftlBNikOUT. ^ 11

toa consonant with her owtf tastes^ not
to steal upon her afi^xrtion with a charm ft'
which softened her ahhonrence of the
mother that gave him birth ^ and» die
justly thought, blameably softened it.
Often did ^e condemn herself for the
tears which certain remembrances drew
from her eyes, whenever she was left
alone after a visit from Julian. She be-
lieved that, were this object removed,
her thoughts would return into their
proper channel, and that she would cease
to feel regrets, which degraded her in
her own estimation : indulgent to all the
world, Madame Roselheim was severe
to herself.

But of Julian's exchange there yet
seemed to her no prospect. Neither letter
nor massage was come from the Swedish
commanders on this subject ; and Father
Joachim had received but one ir<»n his
iUostrious patron, written on the receipt
of his, by die travelling friar.

AU that he communicated geinaally
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19 tHE nvtA&E

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of this epistle was, that tfare Count wa9
earnestly labouring at the exchange oi'
hi9' son, in extreme : trouble of spirit at
the o)>stacle» opposed to it } and that he
had transmitted an unlin^ited order for
money to the Franciscan, for the latter
to distribute at will, amongst those who
were kind to the little Julian.

<* I hope," said Aremberg, to whom
alone Father Joachim thought it best
to impart this passage of his letter,
^< I hope that Rupert is not to know that
bis father thinks it possible for bim, who
refused an equivalent for the child's ran-
som from hands he respected, that he
could or would accept — *'

" My Lord of Rhinegraves£ein,^* in-
terrupted the Franciscan, with some emo-
tion, << does justice, — to you, excellent:
Sir, I. may say weeping justice to that
youi^ man's best qualities. He has long,
put a constraint upon his mrn feelings,
out of respect for his. Would to God,
they were not at variance! I am mxe

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Ot MARIBNDOHPT. ijj.

riiy Ldfd wishes thd friends of Rupert to
know, that from the hour i% whi^ 1^
discovered the youth's situation wim thfe
Swedish army, he longed to supply him
with the means of honourable living ;
but he felt that such a character wotiM
ill brook any overtures of the kind from
the pjsirenf whom he thought it right to
desert, and with a grieved heart my Lord
withheld his bounty.'*

" I thank you for this explanation,"^
said Aremberg, pressing Joachim's hand,
although the latter, afraid of further ques-J
tioning, had drawn back into coldness ;
••for the honour of human nature, 1 am
glad the Count of Rhinegravestein knows
how to respect the virtues he fails to
practise ; and I am sure the information
that he does, will sweeten the bitter re-
membrances of his excellent son."

«« That son will remember also, 1
hope," said Ae Franciscan, drily, •• that
it was in the power of that father to en-'
force his return to him by. authority, op^

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14 THS VILLAGE

to obtain it by secret measures; that,
above all, ^ had the right to insist upon
his abdication of his name i and that he
did none of those things.''

*< Enforcing one would have rendered
the others nugatory/' returned Arem*
berg, somewhat contemptuously; ^ if
the Count of Rhinegravestein still pre*
tends to a father's authority, he cannot
dispense with the obligation to give his
son a home and a station. 1 cannot,
therefore, own my friend obliged .in this
case."

" Yes, Sir, even you ttust have owned
that be owed much to his father's ten*
demess, had you witnessed: the domestic
storm thai followed the first information
of his continuing to bear that name *— the
Coimtess-— But I am wrong, I oi^ht
not to go thus far." The Franciscan
broke off in extreme disorder ; and^ cross-
ing himself several timejs with great fer*
vour and contrition, walked apatt for a
few momtets.

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OF MARIENDORPT. 15

Those moments gave Aremberg time
to recollect himself; and, jus^y picturing
the proud wrath of the Countess, and the
stinging remorse of her hrabatad^ he ac-
knowledged internally, that thei^ was
some virtue in the tatter's resistance to
her violence.

The Franciscan approached him once
more, with increased emotion. << Yoa
affected me greatly, Sir, by telling me the
odier day what I had never known, that
our brave young frigid refused promo*
tion and money too, from his own
superiors, when they showed him their
right to insist upon the detention of hki
prisoners; — ^that was a proof of nobleness
beyond all doubting. I hope to move
you by this fact— -that the Count of
Rhinegravestein mortified his patefnal
yearnings, after the son, whom, I scruple
not to ssiy, he felt proud of, and re-
frained from either sending to him, or
making too minute enquiries concerning
him, lest a^y intercourse with himsdf

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16 tHE VILLAGE

might subject the latter to political suspi-
cions, and so stain his military good
faith, and obstruct his advancement. As
Jesu is my witness, I declare this consi-
deration influenced, and deterred him,
when he would^ have sent his son a valu-
able and splendid sword, that he had
caused to be made on purpose for him,
After hearing of the exploit which first led
him to take arms."

<*' That was worthy, — creditable to
the Count,** returned Aremberg ; «< he
^eems to have nice sensibilities. What a
pity that his Better qualities wre not
more stable ! These sensibilities are his
injured lady's avenging ministers ; but
she would bless rather than curse. Sure-
ly, Father, now that you know this emi-
netttly-virtuous woman, you cannot but
esteem the son, who abandoned his
worldly interest to wed himself to her
sad destiny ! I regard you too highly not
to believe that ydu condemn the action
that made them both outpastd/'

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OF MARICKDOaPT. 17

" It is not mine to judge!'* answered the
Franciscan, trying tojetreat within himself
once more; <^at least my sentiments on the
conduct of the Count Rhinegravestein be-
long only to God and him. I knew him
not in his days of dottiestic happiness and
subsequent trouble, therefore my opinion
was not called for; others directed his
conscience . — doubtless, faithfully ; i— I
•hope rightly. What he did, had the seal
of the Court of Rome : both his spiritual
*tord and his temporal lord sanctified that
act, which his son presumes to think
'Wholly released him from his duty to one
parent, and gave him all to the other.
Thus the. voice of our holy church not
only absolves, but applauds."
' «« But what says the voice of Nature ?
What says the voice of conscience to the'
Count himself?'* exclaimed Aremberg
impetuously. " An innocent son cut
off from long-admitted rights— -a vir-
tuous wife stripped of her rank, her
homcy nay, of the very means of life,

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18 THE VILLAGE

and thrown at once into the class of
women abhorrent to name ! Yet^ had he
not married another, even I could have
allowed, that superstitious— '* Aremberg
checked himself j beseeching pardon for
the indelicacy into .which he had suffered
himself to be hurried, and confessing that
he had thus ill-repaid the Franciscan's
voluntary confidence.

I'ouched by this honourable humilia-
tion, Father Joachim's grey eye glisten-
ed, as he replied, *^ You have my pardon.
Since I have lived amongst you, I have
learned to pardon many things^ and to
approve some, which I fancied it impos-
sible for me to do : this amongst the rest.
I will go further even than this j and say
to you, that so far from approving a
second marriage, after a divorce like that
of my Lord Rhinegravestein's, I lament
it in sackcloth and ashes. Had it pleased
God to have made me the guide of
my lord's disturbed conscience at that
time — " Aremberg smiled rather seep-

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OF MARIENDORPT^ 19

tically at the phrase— disturbed con-
science. The Franciscan went on with-
out remarking it — " I would have shown
him, that it-was safer and better to expiate
the offence of his first unhallowed nup-
tials, either by complete devotedness to
public duties, or by becoming such as I
am, dedicated to heaven, and mortified to
all human affections : far, far better than
to render his pious remorse suspected,
and have it made a reproach and a mock-
ing amongst the enemies of the true
faith ; far better, than to have thus heap*
ed additional sorrow upon the wife and
son, already grieved sufficiently, and to
whom, seeing as I see them, I cannot
refuse respect and compassion — O ! that
ye were all of our blessed fold !'*

^< We ihall be of one fold, under one
shepherd, not long hence!" exclaimed
Aremberg,- greatly moved by this first
distinct view of the Franciscan's best
feelings, " in another world, the jarring
opinions of this, will cease : every error of

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20 THE VILLAGE

doctrine will be forgiven, to the sincere
aspirant after tfuth ; and not they who
have cried. Lord, Lord, but they who
have done the will of the Father will find
acceptance and blessedness for evermore.
May I be found worthy to go where you
will be at the great day of resurrection P*
he added, giving the good monk's hand
dn affectionate and earnest pressure.

« Pray Jesu thou may'st!'* returned
Joachim, and the fervent manner with
which he said this, might have caused
atiother to smile at the seeming naive
vanity of the exclamation. Aremberg
read it aright ; and knew that it belong-
ed to the Franciscan's confidence in his

superior doctrines, not to any presump-
tuous notion of his own excellence. He
would fain have asked, him a few ques-
tions concerning the state of Rhine-"
gravestein's feelings towards his deserted
wife. He longed to know whether the
Count cherished regret and tenderness for
her — whe.ther he really preferred her

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OF MARIBNDORPT.

€'

younger rival — whether it had ever cost
him pain to remain ignorant of her exist-
ence and fate? — He would fain also have
dived a little deeper into the character of
the present countess ; but respecting the
situation of Joachim^ and honoring his in-
tegrity, he forbore to indulge this desire,
and suffered him to depart without
further questioning.

Q2 THE VILLAGE

CHAP. II.

Quite late in the fourth day, after the
arrival of Madame Krazau's letter, one
of her servants rode into Mariendorpt,
and while enquiring the way to Mr. Van-
derhoven's, was seen by Rupert, who
had known him at Rendsburg. Having
given him the requisite directions, and
learnt that his lady's carriage was not
far behind, Rupert hastened to the Par-
sonage for his mother, who had wished,
but scarcely hoped, an opportunity of
knowing the exact time of her young
cousin's approach, that she might be at

^ ' Mr. Vanderhoven's to give her welcome.

M. In the haste of getting away with her
s^on, Madame Roselheim had not leisure
for any observation of Meeta's counte-
nance ; but she felt the poor girl's hands
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OF MARIBNDORPT. 23

tremble, as she was assisting her with
her cloak ; and she heard that her voice
faltered, as she replied to Rupert's ani-
mated desire, that she and her father would
not fail to follow them, when suflScient
time were passed for his mother and Mr.
Vanderhoven to make acquaintance with
his Danish friends.

He disappeared as he spoke, and with
such animation of manner, that Meeta
thought he seemed treading on air. She
would have thought too, what a mixed
surprize of pain and pleasure was await-
ing Adolpha, who would indeed see the
person she loved again, and unexpe^i^
edly, but see him wounded and sufrcr.
ing ; she crushed {he rising thoughts,
however, and refusing herself the indul-
gence even of despairing meditations
upon this forbidden subject, courageously
turned to her father, and asked him with
a smiling lip, whether they had not best
amuse away their impatience -to see the
travellers, by pursuing the study of a book

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they had commenced together some days
Before?

The work in questioni was one of
English history, Which Muhldenau eluci-
dated as they went along, by occasional
references to private memoirs of the
same period. Meeta and he had been
consulting these different authors in the
little summer-room by the water-side,
and the volumes being left there, they
now went thither in search of them.

As Mef ta walked down their verdant
garden by the side of this indulgent
father, listening to his benevolent expres-
sions of pleasure at the arrival of per-
*sons so interesting to Madame Rosel-
heim as Madame Krazau and her young
companion ; as her half-tearful eye re-
marked the tempered happiness of his,
her heart smote her, not for cherishing
the feeling which oppressed it, but for
the mere existence of that feeling.
, " What under Heaven ought I to love
or desire, except this father — this dear

OF MARIENDORPT. 95

father? — she asked herselfi as she re<*
garded his placidly*peiisive aspect, — << O
why has my heart room for apy other •
affection than what I feel for him ?

At that moment Meeta fancied every
other affection, at least every dangerous
one — annihilated in her breast} so in-
tense was the tenderness with which
she r^ecalled the days of her childhood,
during which this dear parent was her all
of life ; days, when his fond caresupplied
^to her the place of the mother she knew
only by bis description, and leafned to
love principally from his tears. She re-
membered the sad history to which she
had listened on her fourteenth birth-day)
^nd that filial transport with which she
had inwardly vowed to devote all her fu-
ture years, to the duty and delight of
rendering his remaining ones happier
than those of which he then spoke^

And was it she, then, >^ho was per-
mitting the acquaintance (jf a day, (for
such Rupert might be considered, when

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36 THE VILLAGE

compared with a parent,) to embitter the
peace of her youth, to overcast its fair*
est prospects, and to defeat her most
sacred purpose ?

Meeta justly believed, that to conceal^
her heart's vain desire from her father's
knowledge, was not sufficient to preserve
his tranquillity unimpaired : she must
utterly extirpate that desire j otherwise,
the canker, eating into the bud, would
soon reacli the parent stem.

Her eyes, now floating in tears at once
bitter and sweet, she looked up to Hea-
ven, inwardly asking thence the grace
and guidance she required. She did re- '
quire them : for now was she about to act,
and to suffer, without seeking either the
counsel or sympathy of her two earliest
friends. The Comforter she sought,
heard this silent petition ; for a sudden
composure spread over her thoughts^ and
she entered the summer-room, if not with
a cheerful sj^irit, at least with a resigned
one.

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OF MABIENOORPT. 27

The books sought, were found lying
where they, were left the day before,
and Muhldenau immediately placed him-
self beside the table where they lay.
' The evening was peculiarly beauti-
ful } and as his daughter pead aloud, the
soft rustling of the jessamines round and
above the little building, mixed pleas-
ingly with tlie trickling of the water flow-
ing past it, and with the silver tones of
her youthful voice. Where they were
placed, nothing could be seen from the
• open window, but the surface of the ca-
nal itself, reflecting the rainbow-colour-
ing of an evening sky, and the tall trees
on the opposite bank. A continuous
hum of distant voices, joined to the clat-
ter of wooden shoes, proclaimed some
village festival going on across the water j
and to Muhldenau, who believed the
amusements of hia parishioners truly
innocent, these sounds of their merri-
ment thus softened were not unpleasant
He went on, without disturbance, ex-
c 2

'^ Hife «.

28 THE VILLAGE

plaining to his daughter, and comment-
ing on what he explained, with his usual
placidity.

The shades of evening fell suddenly,
or rather appeared to do so, after the
gorgeous retinue of clouds waiting on
the sun's setting, had passed away. It
was soon too dark for Muhldenau to^ refer
with ease to his books, although Meeta
could have continued reading by the
light of the risen moon : — he put them
aside.

" We have staid our full time, I think, '
my child," he said ; " we may now go,
and make acquaintance with these new-
comers at Mr. Vanderhoven's.

Meeta felt a cold thrill run through
her veins, at words which brought back
at once the painful images she had ba-
nished by laborious efforts. Rupei:t, in
the society of the woman he loved, was
the object she was about to see ; and the
acute paiig such an imagination brought
with it, gave her sad warning of what

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OF KARIENDOBPTf 99

the reality would prove. She felt that
filial afiection was no longer alUsufficient
for her heart } that its peace was destroy-
ed for ever.

Without replying to her father^ she
began hastily collecting the scattered
books^ as if afraid to lose the little for*
titude she yet retained, by delaying the
dreaded interview.

As Muhldenaii assisted her, a written
paper fell dut from one of the volumes :
he took it up, and first glancing over it^
then paused and looked at it, till tears
gathered in his eyes. The moonbeams,
as they shone on him, gave a holier clia-
racter to those tears.

" Something affects you, dear father,'*
observed Meeta,' wistfully regarding his
quivering features.

*^ Only some, silly lines of my own
writing, my child !" he replied, passing
his hand across his face, and smiling as
she took them from him by gentle force.
She cast her eyes over the discoloured
c 3

30 THE VILLAGE

and blotted paper, and saw the following
careless attempt at a sonnet : —

Will e'er the time arriye, when, as the wind.
Of shrill November sweq)8 my casement by.
While heavy ra|n is to that drear sound joined.
And social faces draw the warm hearth nigh,
I shall arouse the fire by frost refined.
Thinking but careless things ? — ah no ! the sigh,
Repeatilig stiU where my lost treasures He,
Shall bid within the heart, wh^e they are shrin'd.
That sudden throb of local pleasure die !
In memory linked witib each domestic joy !
With all that charms, the sense, and lifts the mind ;
With those, whom here I never more shall* find —
0*er this sad head, past Times, will shriekuig fly.
And mj thrilled soul of happier hearths remind. -^

« Silly, dear Sir !'* Meeta exclaimed,
after having read this effusion, repeating
her father's own phrase.

" Yes, my child," he replied seriously j
<* for is it not silly in us to contemplate
a life, which is eternally changing its
events, as made up of unchanged feel-
ings ? — That gracious God who has
placed us in this scene of trial, has mer-
cifully ordained, that time shall soften

OF MABIEKDORPT. 31

every affliction ; and that as years roll
oDy they shall remove us and our sor-
rows, further from ^^^^ other. Were it
not the case, all our usefulness would in-
fallibly be wrecked by selfish regrets, and
selfish pity. At the period in which I
wrote these lines, my Meeta, my heart
was full of thy mother, thy sister, my lost
prince, his royal fitther, and many, many
a patriot companion endeared by mutual
sufiering for the same cause. I think
I say in them, that no dismal blasta shall
howl round my dwelling, without reviv-
ing their dear remembrances. Now I
know, my child, that many an inclement
night my thoughts have been completely
engaged by some poor parishioner, whom
I knew to be out in it, alone, by land
or by water, with a wife and family to
whom his safe return was bread and
happiness both. And how many times
also, have I not forgotten that I had any
thing to lament, when sitting with thee,
c 4s

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S€ THE VILLAGE

and our dear Madame^ by our own smil"
ing stove 1'*

" Often may it be so again, dearest
father I*' Meeta exclaimed, fervently, kis-
sing his hand, and thinking many things
she durst not utter: «*Yet I would
not wish you wholly to forget former
times/'

^" Nor would I — nor can I, alas P^.
rejoined the pious Muhldenau^ smo^
thering a sigh: — •*! but seek to caU
thy attention*,^ f^y child, to this im<^
portant truth; — that evety remembrance
decays^ in the human heart, except
that of our good or bad deeds* In
all concerns of life, therefore, fear no
lasting grief, unless thou hast disgraced
thyself by a wil&lly-base action, or
stained thy soul with deliberate guilt.
Be the existing pang enough for thee ;
imagine not its constant renewal; and
above all things, my child, remember
that there is no merit in being miserabk.
Indifference to the loss of estimable

OF MilBIENDORFT* 3di

fiiends, or to the destruction of virtuous
hopes; is as blameable, as inordinate
lamentation upon such occasions^ and
perhaps is the sign of a worse na*
ture : it has ever seemed to me part
of our duty to feel the trials and chastise-
ments with which it pleases Heaven tQ
winiiow us; and, wrong therefore, to
harden ourselves against them. I should
humbly conjecture, that the true measure
of grief for the loss of worldly blessings^
h just that which may wean us from
mere pleasures, yet leave us the power
of fulfilling our remaining duties, and
of enjoying the performance of them : —
if we grieve beyond this, we sin/*

As Muhldenau ceased to speak, he
fixed a contemplative look upon the
ground: but Meeta's eyes remained ri-
veted upon his face, as though she would
fain have looked into his very heart.
The words he spoke, seemed dictate^
either by a discovery of her secret grief,
or inspired by her good angd. Which,
c 5

$4f THE VILLAGE

ever it was, the words were sacred to
her; and, recovering from the trance
of soul into which they had tlirown her,
she once more kissed his hand, and
praying never to forget the lesson he had
just taught her, prepared to quit the
summer-room*

The lesson had been purely acciden*
tal; Muhldenau, therefore, drew her
arm calmly within his, and began his
walk to Mr. Vanderhoven*s. The dis-
tance between the two houses was asi
easy one; and the way lying up the
mall on one side of the canal, and just
across the flying-bridge to the other,
the father and daughter were regaled
with the ^meli of the full-blossomed
lymes, as they went along, and lighted
by the beautiful moon.

She was now most beautiful ! the yd-
low. glow that belongs to her rising,,
had been gradually softening as she as-
cended, into a paler and paler hue, till
at length it whitened into perfect silver ;

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*<•

OF HAKIENDORBT. 35

then brightened still more ^ and at last
assumed that transparent splendour, to
which silver itself is dark and heavy.

Her progress, at first, lay through
light fleecy clouds, which she tinted
with something of a faint and silvery
green; but soon she left these clouds
behind, and as they dissolved into ether,
her crystal lamp was alone seen, sus*
i ^. pended from the blue vault of heaven,
^ and shining on the clear surface of the
canal. There, no other object was visible,
except the visionary reflections of its
trees, under whose broad branches the
darkened path along the bank, and the
deep shadows renting there, formed
a striking contrast with the openness
and brilliancy of the water.

There was a mixture of lov^iness and

, solemnity in this night-scene, which was

.eminently adapted to compose the lipu

rits, and wing the soul to a sphere far

beyond that of its own immediate

wishes and regrets. Meeta felt its bless*

c 6

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S6 tHE ^tLtAi^e

ed influence: vrhat she bad so lately
been listening to^ fortified her against
the trial she was about to encounter j
and she now hung on her father's arm,
with so many secret prayers for blessings
on his honoured head, and so many fer-
vent desires that she might never cause
him sorrow, by yielding to any sentiment
likely to produce it, that by the time
they reached Mr. Vanderhoven% her
spirit was elevated above itself.

A servant ushered them into the very
room where Meeta's heart had first takelnr
the full and fatal stamp of Rupert's ex-
cellence. The expected party were all
there. Her newly-acquired strength
nearly forscrok her, when, she heard
Madame Roselheim's geittle voice alter-
nately naming Madame Krazau, and her
young kinswoman, and found herself
animatedly embraced by the latter.

On being released from this unexpect-
ed salutation, Meeta faltered out some
words of welcome to the young lady,

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OF MAAIBNDORPT. 37

though she moved unconsciously to the
eWer.

Madame Krazau received her respect*
ful compliments, with the languor of sick*
ness and fatigue^ yet courteously too;
and immediately endeavoured to com-
mence a conversation upon the circumw
stances of her journey* During these
slow, interrupted communicationsi Meeta
had time to observe her own happy
rival.

The appearance of Adolpha was very
striking. A dark traveUing dress, made
in the Polish fashion, with a profusion of
rich decoration, and sitting close to the
shape, was set off by a pelisse of the same
silk, lined with rose-colour, and trimmed
with f jur ; the pelisse flying open, gave a
distinguished air to a %ure too thin for
beauty, but not for elegance. There wa&
exquisite elegance, indeed, in the play of
her long, slender throat, as she sought to
disengage it from the folds of her ruJB^
and the scattered rhiglets <^ her fine

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38 THE VILLAGE

Uack hair ; there was much beauty in a
face finely shaped, of a clear brown, and
animated by teeth almost as brilliant as
her eyes.

Meeta could not help thinking, while
she regarded it» that such a starry face
threw roses and lilies into shade } and
her far-lovelier eyes sunk sadly, even
under the admiring beam of Adolpha's.

The ease, the vivacity, th^ agreeable
nothings which Adolpha was saying to
those immediately beside her; th% grace-
ful compliments she seemed to have at
command for every one ; (and by some
,rare tact or invisible agency, adapted to
tbm: peculiar characters), the address
' with which she divided her^ attentions,
esLcited Meeta's surprise and approba-
tion. Hitherto she had believed, that
there never could be such exquisite po-
lish, such perfect possession of the whole
powers, in so young a woman, untinc-
tured by a certain air of boldness : butf
in Adolpha, there was not even levity of

"^e lfbvCoOg k

OF MARIENDORPT. 39

manner* Perfect mistress of others, as
well as of herself, she seemed to hold the
sceptre of society, and awed, while she
encouraged; checked forwardness^ while
she inviled timidity.

No longer doubting that Rupert loved
Adolpha, Meet^ could but wonder how
he contrived to seem so satisfied, wh^e
she was not. She ventured not a single
glance towards him, (though her heart
throbbed to read its fate, in that ingrau-
ous face,) but looking at Madame Rosel-
heim, saw her regarding Adolpha with
the complacency she had done ; their
eyes met at that instant ; and Meeta had
the couri^e to exchange a speaking
glance with her.

Mr. Vanderhoven now approached his
favourite, to request sh^ would lay aside
her walking attire, as he had promised
his guests the pleasure of their company
at supper. Seeing her father quietly put
down his hat, with a smile of acquitfr-
eaice, Meeta, in some little flutter of

y Google

40 THE VILLAGE

bands and spirks, threw off her cardinal,
and wa9i endeavouring to get off her bat ;
bat first it caught in the little lawn cap
she wore under it, and then in the ribboa
that knotted up her rich brown tresses,
and as Mr. Vanderhoven would have
assisted her, every confinement of her bah*
was unfastened by bis awkward attempts,
and down it fell in such prodigiality of
beauty over her whole form, that Adolpha
uttered a cry of astonishment and ad*
miration.

There is no beauty, perhaps^ more de*
cidedly feminine, than very long hair ; and
the modest character which that natural
mantle bestows upon a youthful face^
brightens its charms.

Never did Meeta look more lovely than
now, when all blushing and trembling,
confused by Adolpha's admiration, and
afraid of attracting more, she sought with
unaffected haste to gather up ber silken
tnesses, which were as ofleh escaping,
agftin over the white and rounded asptit

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OF MABJENDORPT. 4^1

endeavouring to raise them. Her slender,
yet perfectly-moulded sbape^^jtunconw
sciously displayed its finest forms, by tlie
movements necessary to assist her exer-*
tions } her touching eyes became tearfiil
through distress, and her cheek alter-i^
nately shamed the white and the red
rose.

Rupert looked at her thus,^ without
faking or advancing ; while ethers of
the party, to whom' this peculiar beauty
of Meeta's was as much a secret as to
him, crowded round her, to admire ita
fine texture, and that intense glow which
enriched it into harmony witb her com-
plexion«

Adc^pfia was the first to recover from^
this embarrassing impulse of delight^
While she assisted and sooUied Meeta,
her courtly elegance^ tranquklizing self-*
possession, and sportive ease, formed a
picquant contrast with the almos^priipi-
tive simplicity of the other j. whose pure
red and white, ^

"^ 'i&iJJ ' O .ui g i.M ' J *' .

42 THE VILLAQB

'* By Nature's sweet and cunning hand laid on ;"

her scattered hair, unornamented dress*
a»d shrinking modesty* embellished with
the charms of sentiment : a charm* like
that of the wild flower^ which we come
suddenly upon amongst unfrequented
paths, and think and find it sweeter than
all the flowers of the garden.
'^ Perhaps something like this com-
parison rose to the mind of Rupert ; for*
instead of answering Aremberg* wh^n
he whispered some words in praise of
Addpha's amiable manner, he stood
gazing on Meeta.

<« Can you be thinking only of Meeta*
and her beauty, at this moment ?'^ in-
quired his friend* in the same tow tone,
but with a degree of astonishment*

« Not of her beauty,** replied Rupert;
**I am thinking how interesting she,
looks-**

His mother neither heard this, declara-
tion, nor saw the gaze which occasioned
Arembetg*s question. Mr.Vanderboven*s

OP ICAftltE^BOBFT. ^

tall figure being intetf^psed between them
4uring this scene } -and^ms Rvpert imme-
diately went up to Adolpba, and said
some playful nothings upon her art of
hair-dressing nothing could awaken a
suspicion in Madame Roselheim's mind,
that she and every one, were mistaken
about the state of her son's heart* .

It is strange^ — - it is lamentable, to oU
serve how often the clearest judgments
ai^erverted from their sure course^ ^by
relymg on the erring testimony of others !
^om^times, by the event thf^ believe in,
being particularly likely to result from a
certain combination of pircumstanceSn or
peculiarly desirable ; . often, by imagine
ing that the same sentiment must always
arise from the same causes, and assume
the same appearances. Thus Madame
Roselheim, who had loved almost sud«
denly and decidedly from the first, wa$
not acaistomed io suppose a deep and
ardent passion growing in the heart of
Rupert as well as of Meeta, merely from

44 THE VILLAGE

the seed of afiectionate esteem. The in*
troduction of Rupeft to Adolpha, too>
was like that of Madame Roselheim's
first knowledge of Rhinegravestein, cal^*
culated to excite such tender emotions
in both, that a mutual attachment seemed
almost unavoidable ; and, as all she had
heard accidentally from Aremberg cor-
roborated the assertion of her brother-in-
law, she was now, and for loUg after-*
wirdli^ led fo believe, that whatever
seemed like indifference on th6 part of
Rupert, waJE§^ in truth, only the natural
attempt to conceal a passion doubtful of
its own propriety^ and afraid of inviting
mortification,

Meeta's hair re-adj usted, and hef spiHts
composed, she endeavoured, with a good
grace, to fall into the animated tone of
the company ; but, in spite of her excel-
lent resolutions and late energy, at first
she found it difiScnlt to- support her part
in the versatile conversation* Yet was
she more and more captivated by Adol-

OF MABIENOORPT. ,45

pha, whosig frequent glance at the mild
figure of Muhldenau, then talking apart
with Aremberg, convinced her that this
lively creature would rather hav6 isougbt
his intellectual discourse, than proceeded
in her amusing war of compliments and
trifling with Mr. Vanderhoven, By such
«elf-deiiyipg attentions to their host) how-
ever, Adolpha proved the real politeness
and delicate tact of her character ; giving
consequence, and inspiring complacency
in the most diffident and least attractive
person of the party ; and proving* her
relationship to Madame Roselheim, by
this amiable graciousness.

With sincere joy did Meeta hail every
real or fancied discovery of an excel-
kfice in this fiivoured heiress; since,
whatever were her valuable qualities, they
would hereafter form the bank of Rupert's
happiness; as such, were to be prized
by his friends:^ and in proportion as
Meeta could love her rival, so, she
was aware^ would the poison pf selfish

46 TH£ VILLAGE

regret be extracted from her hearth
wound*

After a few graceful sallies exchanged
with his charming cousin, Rupert bad
spnk into silence, and suffered her to be
engrossed by others. Meeta and his
mother happened to look at him at the
same instant, and saw his eyes fixed
upon Adolpha. Meeta thought that fix-
ture was full of tenderness j Madame
Roselheim found sadness in it. Rupert
sighed obviously as they were regarding
him, though not audibly, and turned
away his head; his eyes encountered
theirs, and he bldshed.

That look, that blush, set the seal to
their joint delusion. Meeta's forbidden
hopes vanished at once. Madame Ro-
selheim smiled pensively to .herself at
what seemed her son's unfounded distrust
of his own power. Both believed Adol-
pha the sole object of that tender reverie.
Could they have guessed whose image he
was contrasting with Adolpha's almost
11

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OF MARIENDDRPT. 47

unconsciously, during this fixed gaze }
and what visions of future fortune for
himself, and of consequent happiness for
his mother, he was mentally yielding up
as impossible to be attained by hiin ia
the way expected, how would the heart
of the one have throbbed, and the other
sunk !

At supper, Adolpha seated herself be-
tween Rupert and Meeta, ; and, turn*
ing to the latter, said, " O, you were not
witness of our siirprize at sight of our
old acquaintance here! I have nerves
that a mouse can put into agitation ^ so
I was positively on the point of compli-
menting my gallant cousin with a faint-
ing fit."

** And may not my nephew claim a
share in that flattering compliment?'*
asked the literal Mr. Vanderboveur

" And Mr. Aremberg, of course," an-
swered Adolpha, colouring deeply at her
omission, or at his notice of it. For some
moments afterwards her gaiety was

48 THE VILLAGE

checked, she looked down, and appeared
to have lost self<-possessiori«

Meeta was touched hf so unequivocal
and unexpected a pro;^' of nice sensibi-
lity. Such sincere distress at the cour-
tesies she omitted, bestowed a higher
value upon those Adolpha dispensed,
proving their source was not a desire
to please, but the wish to render happy.
Meeta, while she remarked this, thought
Adolpha's brilliant eyes were infinitely
.the handsomer, when they were raised
again, for glancing through tears^ as well
.as through their long fringes.

The lively heir^s resumed, however,
in the same tone, — " It was something
alarming to see one's cousin with his
arxjQ in a sling, though so agreeable
to meet him unexpectedly ; so, for the
first ten minutes, I was not at all myself;
and dear JSf £idame Krazau was half dead
with weariness, and ajl our friends here,
new and old, doubtless, kpew not what
to make, of us/'

01^ MABIENDORPT. 49

" I fancy we were all pretty well
a^rare what' melancholy remembrances
were 'ipnnected with the sight of ,us !*'
observed- Aremberg to Muhldenau, so-^
licitous, as usual, to place honourable
emotion to its right account : he spoke in
a low voice, though so distinct, that npt
only Meeta but Adolpha caught the
remark. The latter became silent and
pensive again ; although the shade, which
then fell over her bright bl^k eyeSf bad
nothing distressful in it.

This extreme susceptibility to proper
feelings, confirmed Meeta in her favour*
able opinion «of Adolpba's character $..
and every moment^ more c^tivated by^ .
her flashing vivacity and courtly ^f^anQfld
she gave a sigh to her own different cha-
racter and different fate, and turned re*
solutely away from all ofctsen^ation of
Rupert.

Mr. Vanderhoven, however gratified
1^ the particular attention of the Mr
stranger, lost not sight of his favprite,

VOL. Ill*

I' « II niiiilillllftlB^ ■ .,imi,^>m0

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50 THE VILLAGE'

object which regarded Mveta: he was
perpetually calling Aremberg'B attention
to her, and trying to secure he^ for
him ; but Aremberg as obstiimtely ad*
here4 to Muhldenau, seemingly forget*
ful that any other person was. to partake
of the boiled trout whiqh it was his ojffice
to dispose of. ^

«♦ Don't you recognise your fiiend
Aremberg again ?*' whispered Rupert
to Adolpha, << so absent to trifles -^ —
— so present to. every thing worth
caring about P* and as they caught part
pf their friend's luminous convers-
ation, he directed her eye to the full plate
of the latter,* which bad been docilely
taken when presented, and immediately
forgotten.

** That cream is excellent, Arem-
berg?** he asked. *^Very excellent,
was the mechaqical reply. Rupert
laughed.

*^ ^VLch jesting,^' said Adolpha, with an
air of displeasure that became her exceed*

ft

OF SiAEIBKDOBPT. 51

ingly, " is surely unworthy Mr. Arem*
berg's friend/'

Rape's face grew scarlet: then sud-
denly bending his lips to her hand, he
touched it with them, exclaiming, <^ I
am bound to'you for life, dear cousin,
for this brave rebuke J it is not every
one who would understand my trick of
sporting with what I love and respect. I
have done it now for th^ last time ; be*
lieve me.*'

At this kiss of Adolpha's hand, even .
Aremberg himself looked round with sur-
prise and enquiry: so that nothing was
left to the parties concerned, except a .
fair explanation of what had passed.

Meeta marvelled at Adolpha's courage -
while she admired it ; for courage was re->
quired, to reprove the man she loved : Ma- .
dame Roselheim inwardly looked on it as
a sort of innocent feint to conceal Rupert's >
power over her heart. Mr. Vanderhoven
appeared as if he apprehended ft were in-,
cumbent upon him to enforce Adolpha's
D 3

^

"****fSSS£lKr^

53 THE VILLAGE

short lecture: while Aremberg only
smilingt said, with that air of extreme
emotion^ which was precious in propor-
tion to its rarity,

•* I am the gainer by this war between
you, for I learn that I have two invalu-
able friends, where I durst not flatter
myself with having more than one.*'

" Mr. Aremberg !'* was all Adolpha
CQuld say, with a tone of as deep feeUng
as his own j and a look that reminded
every one, of what she owed him for pre-
servation and consolation.

A §hade of yet-greater emotion passed
over Aremberg's quiet features, while
Adolpha spoke and looked; but he
merely bowed in reply, and began in re-
ality to eat the cream he had praised un-
tasted.

During the remainder of this evening, it
was evident that one-half of the company
were employed in watching the other.
Rupert and Adolpha might be called the
principal performers; Madame Rosel-

17

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OF MARIBKDOBPT. 49.

heim, Meeta, and Mr. Vanderhoven, the
observing spectators.

Madame Roselheim's observations
upon her son were not conclusive ; but
those she made upon Adolpha were de-
termined. The surprise of seeing him
unexpectedly, and apparently wounded,
had thrown the latter so wholly off her
guard, that she was indeed very near
fainting^ when they first met, and must
have fallen to the ground, had not Mr.
Aremberg prevented her by timely sup-
port.

The agitation caused by this betray-
ing weakness, the fear of hurrying the
spirits of her fatigued god-mother, and
her anxiety to avoid making confusion
in the house of a hospitable stranger,
gave peculiar interest to Adolpha's in-
troduction; so that as Madame Rosel*
heim folded her in her arms, (remember-
ing her brave father,) she inwardly sanc-
tified the choice of her son ; gave a heavy
sigh to poor Meeta; and prayed that

.>*

tf4. THE VILLAGE

Madame Krazau might have » liberal
views as Mr- Vanderhoven.

No symptom of displeasure, or of
apprehension appeared in this lady's
manner towards Rupert throughout the
whole evening : she frequently looked at
him with a complacent kindness^ i^hich
argued well for his success here^Gfier j; but
her small share in conversation wa»
oftener bestowed upon Aremberg, whose
profession, character, and habits, r6n«
dered him a fitter companion for a sick,
and somewhat desponding person. A$
th^ anxious mother made these in-
spiriting observations, her heart sttote
her for Meeta^s sake. Much as the
former felt prepossessed in Adolpha^
favor, she knew that were the alteration
in her poweri she would joyfully ex-
change their situations, and bless the
two dearest objects of her teAdemess
with each other. But such magic was
not giv^n h^r.: and unless she could

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OF UKARIEKDORPT. S5

cha»g^ fortunes as well as affections, it
would be wrong to wish it were.

So painful were tfcese reflections,^ that
Mddame Rosdheim endeavoured to as«
suage their bitterness, by readily trusting
to Meeta's present appearance of cheer-
fulness ; and as she noticed her, listening
to Adolpha with a succession of ^de-
lighted impressions passing swifUy over
her speaking cheek, she ventured to
think that the wound could not be deep
which was so easily covered $ and . to
hope that the dreaded cloud would melt
away, without bursting above their heads,
^r darkening either the peace of Rupert
or of Muhldenau, for a single moment.

Mr. Vanderhoven made several at-
tempts to detain his visifbrs till a late
hour; but Muhldenau's habits were
early, and the travellers required rest.
The two families parted soon after sup-
per, with every demonstration of mutual
regret.

As father Joachim liad declined re-
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56 THE VILLAOE

moviDg from Mr. Vanderhoven^ merely
begging permission for himself and Ju*
lian to keep aloof from the strangers,
Aremberg was to occupy the room pre*
pared for them at the parsonage, (an ar-
rangement by the way, which Mr. Van-
derhoven had promoted,) and he, there-
f(^e, accompanied the minister's family
home.

The party left, became naturally
the subject of conversation. Rupert
owned that be did not think Adolpha
quite so handsome as she was; Arem-
berg, on the contrary, pronounced her*
handsomer, though less sprightly : Meeta
and Madame Roselheim were to the same
degree charmed with that union of high*
^ ly-fimshed polish, with unsophisticated
. feeUngs, which 'seemed to mark the cha-
rabtef as much as the countenance of
this fortunate young woman. , And
Muhldenau thought he saw equal intel-
lect and animation in the black eyes that

^

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.:i

OF MABIEKDORPT. 5?

might be expected to aim only at con-
quest.

Madame Krazau came in for her share
of discussion J and many kindly wishes
were breathed for that lamentable ill-
health, which appeared rather to make
life an endurance, than an enjoyment to
its possessor.

Thus pleased with new friends, the
small party endeared by long ties,
reached the parsonage, where they join-
ed tc^ether in family prayer ; then se-
parated, for sleep, or self-communion on
teir difierent pillows.

I. '

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58 tHlB nLLAOIt

CHAP. III.

Madame Krazau's visit, which had been
originally limited to a week, crept on
from day to day; through a fortnight :
'during, which period the hospitable Mr,
Vanderhoven insisted upon their neigh-
bouts at the parsonage making his
house the general retide^ous, in order
to turn that fortnight to as much ac-
count as possible.

Meeta, desirous of knowing Adolpha
thoroughly, and of learning to believe
her worthy the distinction of Rupert's
love, had acceded, on the evening of
their first meeting, to a proposal made
by the latter, that they should take a
walk together the next morning before
the rest of the two families were stirrings

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OF MAEIENDORPT. 59

She was, therefore, under Adolpha's win-
dow, ere the 8un had exhaled a single
dew-drop. Her gentle call was answer^
ed by the amiable stranger herself, who
appeared at the window so brightly
handsome, that Meeta felt convinced.
Beauty rather belongs to light than to
colours : for Adolpha's dark skin, though
smooth as satin, was untinged by any
hue of the rose ; yet from its transpa-
rency, and the sparkling glitter of her
eyes, teeth, and hair, produced the bril-.
liant efiect of complete beauty. There
was a peculiar tone in her voice also,
which heightened this efkcL Mr. Van-
derhoven, who was ingenious at far-fetch-
ed comparisons, would have said it had
the freshness of sweet-briar. Meeta felt
that it was indeed of an exhilarating
character, yet it sunk her heart.

Many, many feelings were, roused by
iti — many regrets ! — many forebodings !
-^ Returning Adolpha's animated salut-
ation with rather less vivacity^ she tum-
D 6

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60 THE VILLAGE

Bd away; and while the oilier was de-
seeding from her apartmenti << some
natural teah; she dropt» but wiped them
«pn*?

A kindly smile had dispersed those
t^ars by the time Adolpha joined her.

Meetaled the way out of Mr. Van-
dei|0ven^s pleasure-ground, down a
long grove of venerable trees, into the
open country, where they gambled
amongst meadows and water»courses ;
at first solely occupied in the enjoyment
df the morning air, and the observation
of passing objects.

The fr^hness and brightness of that
early* hour rendered every thing they
saw, more distinct and agreeable. The
high roaS to Utrecht was marked by a
long line of milk^carts, filled with well* ^
scoured brass flaggons, almost blinding
Uf look on : the cross-roads were dotted
here and there by light stool-waggons,
conv^ing the wealthy shop-keepers from

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OP MARIfiNDOaPT. 61

the city into the country, for a day's
holiday.

The large chintz hats of the broadU
faced girls within these rude carriages ;
the frequent and musical^dhimes of the
scattered churches; the sun glittering
on the sheet of dew yet covering the
lower grass-lands, or teflected from the
gilded fane of some village spire ; each
of these yjry different sights and sounds,
amused or delighted Adolpha : and
Meeta failed not to admire the charac-
ter which, perfected amongst the inven*
tions and refinements of a capital, yet
preserved the natuiral relish for primitive
ol:jects.

By degrees, however, outward impres-
sions ceased with both^ and they forgot
the pleasure of looking about, in the strong
interest of each other's conversation.

Adolpha asked numerous questions
respecting her young relative and his
mother : at once discarding those cere-
monials of apology and management.

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62 THE VILLAQE

which she knew so weU how to use
upon proper occasions; and frankly
confessing that any thing relating to
them was important to her; that her
time was too short to admit a more cir-
cuitous mode of information, and that
^e therefore besought Meeta to lay the
first stone of the friendship, she hoped
was to exist between them hereafter, by
denoting in what way her generous god-
mother could pay part of their debt of
gratitude to Rupert, and she herself
return the obh'gations of her parents to
his admirable mother! Mr. Aremberg,'
she observed, was blessed with' all his
moderate wishes desireil, except that,
whith taken from him by a divine hand,
could only be restored in another world t
thus they might ^e/ gratitude towards
him, but could never hope for any op-
portunity of testifying it.

In replying .to these enquiries, Meeta
could not bring herself to own, that part
of her dear Madame Hoselheim's means^

OF MABlSMDORPf* 65

indeed all she durst appropriate to
charitable purposes, or unforeseen exi*
gencies, was the fruit of ingenious in-
dustry. She could not own to this inti*
mate of an hour, that her father*s slender
stipend was nearly the sole support of
those dependent upon him, —this ho-
.noured friend included ; and that if fie
were to be snatched away, they would
all be left upon the wide world, houseless
and portionless. She could only ac-
knowledge, that the united iacome of
her father, and that of Madame Rosel-
heims, derived froto her brother-in-law,
was vei*y narrow, yet sufficient for minds
disciplined likp the elder ones, and ha-
bituated as the younger were to the priva-
tion of artificial wants*

When Adolpha showed by her looks
an eager desire to add to her relation's
small income from her own bountiful
settlement, Meeta stopped her,, by the
voluntary promise of sending to claim
her friendship for this object of their

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64 THE VILLAGE

mutual interest, whenever a moment
should arrive in which she required it.
Adolpha was therefore obliged to be
satisfied: she finished the conquest of
Meeta's heart, by the enthusiasm with
which she spoke of Madame Roselheim's
manners, .her remaining beauty, and her
admirable conduct under trials, equal to
the degree of her early happiness.

From the motJier to the son was an
easy transition. Adolpha evidently liked
both theoies ; for she continued to keep
the conversation from taking a wider
direction, by introducing Rupert's friend
into it, enquiring into the origin of their
rare friendship, and remarking how dis-
tj|iQtly the character of a man's dearest
associate deyelopes his own.

Meeta's tenderest vein was open : a
mixture of pain and pleasure melted her,
while yielding every moment more and
more to the sentiment of regard for
her happy rival, and of melancholy
regret for the buried companion of her

j^r

OF MARIEKDOfiPT. 65

earlier youth, so that she related the par-
ticulars of Aremberg's engagement with
Eustatia, and described the modest
graces, and devoted attachment of this
charming creature with such touching
truth, that tears stole down Aclolph&'ff
cheek as well as her own.

The latter's unhesitating agreement
with Meeta's timidly-expressed notion,
that Aremberg would now never marry,
set the seal to her captivation ; and, en*
couraged by this unlooked-for sympathy,
where she scarcely hoped it, Meeta, who
had often been ridiculed for romantic
imagination by ladies more experienced,
gave way to her patural habits of thought,
and talked of Eustatia's beauty, as we& .
as of tier worth, till Adolpha lamented
that she had never seen the being so
regretted, and once so admired.

A picture of Eustatia was, however,
near enough at hand to satisfy mere
curiosity j and Meeta promised to take
an early opportunity of showing it} at it

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66 THE VILLAGE

hung in a little reading-room next to
what had been Aremberg's chamber,
ere he vacated it for one at the par-
sonage.

The new friends were by this time on
"their return homeward j and as they
came in sight of the house, caught a
glimpse of a male figure at the entrance.

<< It is Rupert !" exclaimed Meeta j
." he and Mr. Aremberg, I suppose, going
4:0 breakfast with you* I will leave you
then/*

' She spoke with trepidation, which was
unobserved : for the person she addressed,
seemed quite as fluttered as herself.
** They will see we have been crying;
it will seem so foolish, or impertinent in
one, to enquire — to — can we not go
round some back way ?'*

Adolpha asked these disjointed ques^*
tions in a tone sufficiently expressive of
the agitation Rupert's sudden appear-
ance caused her. Until this moment,
Meeta had not felt quite satisfied with

i(

^

Ol' MARIENDORPT. 67

the 6tile of her attachment; it seemed
either too confident, or too manageable.
The general tone of her spirits the even-
ing before, might be considered by one
of fastidious delicacy, as too gay : but
now, taken thus by surprise^ ere she
had time to throw its company- veil on,
Adolpha's heart showed itself without
disguise ; and Meeta would have afforded
her leisure to recover from this moment-
ary flutter, had not Rupert, perceiving the
new direction they were taking, jumped
over a sunk fence, and met them.

He was alone, they found ; come from
visiting Father Joachim, and playing
with Julian, and proposing to return
home to breakfast.

♦ Having twice noted their disordered
countenances, Meeta hesitatingly owned
the last subject of their discourse, and
Adolpha's desire to see the picture of
Eustatia.

Touched or flattered by this interest
in his friend, he exclaimed with eager-.

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68 THE VILLAGE

ness, ** We have time for it now ; Mr.
Vanderhov^n is opening letters, and
Madame Krazau, is not down stairs. Let
me conduct you to the room where the
picture hangs ! when you see it, ray dear
cousin, Fyou will not wonder at poor
Aremberg being still a mourner. In my
opinion, the heart belonging to such a
lovely face, must have been one of the
best and tenderest in the world/'

" You did not |^now her theni"
Adolpha half questioned, in a subdued
tone,

Rupert replied in the negative; and
softly opening the house-door, led the
way along the ground-floor, into a
small room, the single window of which
threw a strong light upon the object then
sought.

The face of the portrait was so round
aod feir, so delicately tinged with the
pearly tints of childhood, that it seemed
meant to represent that of a creature just
standing on the threshold of youth ; but

OF MARIENDORPT. 69

the figure had a soft fullness and finish of
form which belongs to riper age. Perfect
as that figure was, the eye was principally
fascinated by the countenance; which
was so smilingly sweet, so innocently
happy, that the lamb resting its bead on
the white arm that pressed it against her
breast, and the half-blown rose which
the playful animal was tearing thence^
seemdd comparatively &eble emblems of
beauty and innocence.

Rupert looked on the picture as
though for the first time, expressing his
admiration and regret, with amiable
fervor.

^* Did you ever see a countenance
more perfectly good, more infantine, and
yet so speaking? How that naturally-
cl Atering hair becdmes such a youthful
face! the colour so uncommon and so
exquisite! there is no colour half so
beautiful ! Alas, to think that such a
beaming face, such a breathing form,
are now — but dust !'*

I

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70 THE VILLAGE

€€ Pardon me^ Meeta,'' he added, see-
iiig her turn aside, drowned in tears. He
had laid his hand cm her arm, through
earnestness, and as he concluded, the
unintentional and sympathising pressure
he gave it, thrilled to Meeta's soul*
Other feelings beside that of awakened
memory, caused this thrill : her hair and
Eustatia's were of the same colour ; and
Rupert had just declared his exclusive
admiration of it. She hoped that Adol-
pha, who was standing fixed before the
picture, might not have heard this de-
claration ; but she hoped in vain : and
as Adolpha withdrew her eyes, and
caught a glimpse of herself in a looking-
glass beside them, she said, in a low
voice> and with a poor attempt at a
smile, " What I would give to be lilfe
that portrait !"

<* You need not wish it,** observed
Meeta, rather precipitately, " your cou-
sin's admiration of one stile of beauty,,
we will hope, does not hinder him from

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OF MARIENDORPT. 71

feeling the^power of another.** Meeta
said this with an air of sportiveness, but
in a tone tremulous from concern for
her companion's painful self-distrust.

The dark-glancing eye of Adolpha
rested on her for a moment, with a pe-
oiffar expression in it : but she took no
further notice of the consolatory remark.
" I am sure I could copy this picture,"
she said, cheeifully again, << shall I do
so? I am an indifferent good copyists in
miniature ; and you were regretting" —

Meeta's transport of gratitude and
pleasure interrupted her. The offer
was accepted joyfully, and arrangements
made for Adolpha's security against in*
terruption, and for silence respecting it
<< The miniature being for you, Meeta,"
saijd Adolpha, pensively, •• you may do
what you lil^ with it afterwards; but
talking about it, or showing it in pro-
gress, might revive Mr. Atemberg's
regrets more than any of his friends
could bear to witness."

72 THE VILLAGE

The breakfast bell was now heard
ringingi and easily persuaded to remain
where he was, Rupert went in with
them to the parlour. Meeta was as-
. tonished at the instant change in Adol-
pha, from whose countenance every
trace of sadness vanished like inist bei^re
the sun, and who now began her usual
amusing skirmish of sportive trifling
with her god-mother and Mr. Vander*
. hoven, and turned from them to the
attack of Rupert, with a show of perfect
carelessness.

But Adolpha had lived in the worlds
and the moment she found herself in
society, she remembered that she had
a guard to ]keep over her natural quick-
ness of feeling ; in addition to which, she
made it her study to enliven the spirits
of her languid protectress. ^

Meeta fancied that' the latter must be
the reason of Adolpha's very different
manner when alone, and when in com-
pany : she admired her most in. a circle ^

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OF MAEUCNDORPT. ^9

but to love hefi she felt she must siee
her oflen as she had done during their
lonely ramble of the morning.

After Rupert^s remark upon the
datk-glowing hair of Eustatia's picture^
Meeta's heart, in spite of all her better
exertions, remained on the watch ^ for
some additional gratification: yet ^at
a war of weak and laudable feelingsir
was within it ! —r delight, sel&reproach^
pity for Adolpba, and a convictioii of
failing thus in her duty to Rupert, and
to such a friend as Madame Roselheim.
-~ Each of these feelings oppressed her»
as she observed that Rupert's looks had
a shade less of beaming kindness, and
bis voice a tone less touching, when ,he
spoke to, or looked at Adolpha, than
when he addressed herself.

<< Was his 403other mistaken then,'* she
isked her thoughts; ** did he not prefer
this fortunate creature I and was she
so unhappy as to love him tben» as

' VOL. III^ S .

7*. THE VILLAGE

Meeta did, unsougblv and with ev^i less
hope?**

At the last suggestion of her tottering
heart, Meeta's thoughts fled as from a
serpent., She had resolved never to
hope, never to wish for » return of the
pure affection she felt; and the deep
compassion she now began to feel for
her, whom so lately she had considered
as an object to be envied, assisted in
extinguishing th^se criminal fancies as
they arose.

Adolpha did not forget her promise :
iiie very next day she commenced her
copy of Eustatia's portraits The seasoq
favoured her amiable wishes ; for being
the middle of June, there was light
enough for her purpose, long ere the
family were stirring ; and she therefore
wrought on the miniature two or three
hours each day, before breakfast, without
observation. The great remainder of
her time she gave to society. Mr. Van-
derhoven was so officiously anxious to

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mm .^,.

OF MAAlENfiOSrr. 75

pajr his guests atteatidii> and to show
them ei/ery object oi curiosity within
rMich, that he necessarily threw much
bus^e, and show of pleasure into their
visit/ but. in reality took fircHin their better
enjoyments.

Every one concerned in this^ secret]y
regretted it ; as each wished to ascerSlfn
the sentiments of some other, upon some
particular point ; and that aim was not
easily accomplished, when all put<ni their
gala spirits with their gala attire.

Much, however, was learned of ^ch
other's characters, — though morift guess-
ed at. Adolpha rose in estimation, the
closer she was examined. Though ever
the sparkling light of general society,
with an air and a look that made casual
observers fancy her too free from care
to sympathise with distress, in private
she unlocked those polished gates that
conceal the inward feelings, and
showed a heart well worthy love and
confidence.

E 2

All \'m nin

76 THE VILLAGE

With Madame Roselheim she indulged
^ in conversation about her parents, weep-
ing their loss with sudden bursts of
a sensibility still too little under com-
mand when once yielded to, yet ever
honourable.

With Meeta she talked of Rupert and
AiCmberg, and the buried Eustatia ; dis-
playing the rare capacity of entering
completely into the grief of a friend for
a person unknown to the sympathiser ;
and seeming alive to the pleasure of con»
templating excellence, whether continu-
ing to act in this world, or removed to
a higher.

When their discourse grew too me-
lancholy, Meeta would draw from her
companion livelijer subjects ; she would
induce Adolpha to give her a description
of her life at the court of Copenhagen.
And, though the sprightly describer
would immediately present the most
brilliant or amusing pictures of persons
and manners; though her almost^dramatic

of kARIEKDOrtPf. 77

talents^ and power of graceful mimickry,
would cause evefy character spoken of,
to pass visibly before them ; yet did
Meeta delight in her conversation the
more, when she painted the enjoyment
she used to find when taken into the
country^ and heard her emphatic pfe-
ference of quiet Mariendorpt, over all
the glare and glitter of the world.

At these moments, sighs would throng,
to Meeta's lips, and die there unbreathed.
She thought how exactly such a heart
was formed to bestow happiness upon
Rupert ; and it seemed criminal in her,
therefore, to feel a sentiment, which must
always make her dread his election of the
very person, she would otherwise have
wished to see his wife. In proportion as she
thought thus, she became doubly careful
to repress in herself any inward emotion>
or outward attention which might attract
the notice of Rupert, and cause him to
suspect a preference, that she would
sooner die than discover. She could
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78 THE VILLAGE

not, however, deny herself the poor gra-
tification of decidedly showing those in-
terested in the circumstance, that Mr.
Vanderhoven's views with regard to her
and his nephew, could never sucsceed.

Rupert's playful remark had first di-
rected her attention to those views } and
perfectly sure that Aremberg himself h^d
no sentiment for her which required
delicate handling ; she continued to let
jbim feel and others see, that she con-
sidered him as the mourner of her early
iriend, not as her own expected or coveted
lover#

Without betraying this secret motive
by what would have been an impertinent
indiscretion, Meeta talked of Aremberg
in the same stram to Adolpha ; and so
perfectly were these two unpractised
hearts a^eed upcm the subject of first-
love and eternal constancy, that it was
settled between them, that Mr. Aremberg
thcHigh just turned thirty, never woi^^ld
form another engagement.

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OF HAlttfiNOORPT. 79

Madame Rbselheitn, who saw with
t>Iea8iire the intiipac^ of these new
friendsi promoted it from the tenderest
r^^rd for both. She justly beUeved,
that, ia such a heart as Meeta's, love
might be successfully combated by
friendship, and she therefore sought
every opportunity of displaying Adolpha's
flrie qualities, and makhig them the sub-
ject of her private conversations with
the child of her adoption.

While doing this, without reference to
her Bon, Madame Roselheim saw tba}^
Meeta listened delightedly, and replied
with animation : but whenever she ven-
tured to e^cpress a hope that «icb a
charming creiature was to be his reward
at no distaiat day, (and never did she do
so, without the sharpest pang of pity,)
she would then perceive that all selfish
regrets were not wrung out of her that
likened.

Sometimes only a changing chedc, an
eye trembling on the brink of tews, a
£ i

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80 THE VILLAGE

choaking sigh, or universal trernar, replied
to her remark ; sometimes a^e was an-
swered calmly and firmly ; — oftener with
an eagerness of effi)rt at self-command,
which gave an alarming express^n to her
manner : yet still, under each of these
^pearances, Madame Roselheim saw
enough to convince her she had acted
right in awakening Meeta's attention to
her own state, — enough to inspire her
with equal respect and pity for the poor
girl, whose struggle against. self-iqdul-
.gence was evidently as sincei^e as ob*
Vious. ,

Rupert's conduct meanwhile had ba-
thing in it to excite an apprehension in
his mother's mind, that he either dis-
cerned Meeta's partiality, or wished to
excite it : but she could no longer be-
lieve him what is called m hte with
Adolpha. He was apparently too much
at his ease, both when in, and when out
of her company, for that j yet he ad-
•^ mired his charming cousin j and perhaps

-#

I

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07 MARIEKOOnPT. 81

mdy the fear of being thought to seek
her fortuD%. or a delicate repi^ance to
take advantage of Madame Krazau's
sense of obligation to him, might be the
reason why he had not permitted admi-
ration to deepen into a more serious
sentiment. Whatever it Was, Madaipe
Roselheim determined stiU to avoid any
interference: to refrain from discover-
ing her faint wishes on the subject, lest
the knowledge of them should bias him
on so important a matter: in shorty to
let events aiid feelings take their course,
unimpeded and unhastened.

Such a mother, indeed, could have no
wishes that were not purely disintei*ested*
Since no human power could ever re-
store to her the husband and the happi-
ness of her youth, there was not a
change of place or of fortune, that she
desired for herself. She was contented
at Mariendorpt : she knew she was use-
ful there ; she felt she was bdoyed :
next to the objects of natural afiectioni
£ S

S2 na yjuLAGm

she loved Muhldenau and liAeeta* Tliu^
so long as Rupert could foe satbfied with
a humble home ofiered by friendship ; «— ^
so long as his heart yeamed for no dearer
object than a mother, -^ so long would
she wish nothing for him. Sad, sad ex*
perience of its emptiness, had well nigh
extinguished in her heart, all ambition
for those dearest to her : she had long
ceased to set a high value upon honours
and power, even for them* All she now
asked of Providence, was their continu*
ance in rectitude, and their possession
of happiness, wherever they themselves
might chuse to * place that invisible
deity.

Thus she was one of the very few who
do not insist upon every other^s mental
optics, seeing objects as they do : she
never attempted to argue' aqy one out
of a feeling ; all her anxiety was but to
lead them to consider its propriety/ By
such a principle she was guided in her
conduct between Aremberg and Meeta.
4

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[

OP MAKOSStfJKM^T. SS

The drift of the latter's behaviour was
quickly evident to her» and as she could
not deceive herself about Aremberg's
sentiments, she considered it fortunate
diat Meeta was not more int^ested in
him. Certainly, so far from increasing
in assiduities from observing the evi*
dent aim of his uncle, and the milden-
couragement given by MuhMenau ;
Aremberg contrived to mark the nature
of his regard, by frequent allusions to
Meeta's union with some other man
\ hereafter. Since the arrival of their
Danish acquaintance, he had absented
himself so much from* their society (of
course, because he might have seemed
to seek Meeta there) that such absence
amounted nearly to incivility. Daily
increasing in seriousness and habits of
study, it appeared probable that he
would realise Adolpha's notion, and re*
main wedded to past days, and to his
sacred profession. It was not Arembei?^
alone that refused to enjoy the frienolj^
E 6

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S4^ THE VILLA«E^

a^socktioD at Mr: VanderhQUpin'd } amia^
ble as Adolpha wasy and inoffensive as
Madame Krazau seemed. Father Joachim
persisted in the resolution of absenting
hims^f and his pupil, from their, now
enlarged parties. Rupert could not
quite understand why he was thus shy
of persons in no way concerned to give
him the slightest annoyance : he saw
that a much greater degree of perturbed
anxiety on Julianas account, was evinced
by the Franciscan ;. that he now never
suflfered him out of his sight, and rarely
took him beyond the precincts of the
jpleasure ground. Rupert regretted this
change for all their sakes; — for Adol-
pha% who had been strongly interest-
ed in the child the moment she heard
his relationship to Rupert, and never
•aw him except accidentally; for Ju-
lian's own^ whose innocent amusements
were thus unnecessarily circumscribed;
and for the excuse it afforded Arember^
of keeping aloof from that social inter-

7

OF MARI£N0ORFr. 85

course, whjiih was calculated to wesn
him from unavailing regrets*

Rupert had made so strict a law to
himself never to interfere with Father
Joachim's plans for his pupil, thjit hQ
forbore either question or complaint,
though he saw that such constraint and
confinement was affecting the Francis-
can's own health and spirits, as much as
it had already lowered the vivacity of
his little charge* No species of proposed
recreation, nor no offer of wholly ex-
eluding the neighbourhood at such
times, could ever get the Franciscan to
join their excursions from home ; but h^
now and then ventured amongst themt
for half an hour in th« parlour.

With Aremberg there was one spell
all-potent ; that was music.

Adolpha touched the guitar with ex-
quisite delicacy, and Rupert who had
lately regained the perfect use of his^
right hand, played delightfully on the
flute. Meeta's voice was pressed into

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86 THE VILLAGE.

the service of their little concerts : and
sometimes in airy harmony, with the
gd.y accompaniment of Adolpha's instru-
ment, sometimes in tcmching unison with
the fiiller and mellower tones of Ru-
pert*s, she alternately animated or sub-
dued her auditors. All noticed/ though
only Madame Roselheim guessed why,
that Meeta's voice was more tremulous
and less certain when accompanied by
the flute, than when by the guittar.
" That was strange,'* her hearers said j
** for her tones were naturally so rich
and fluteJike/'

Aremberg often evinced their pathetic
power, by stealing and unconscious tears.

Madame Roselheim's tender anxiety
to allege plausible reasons for Meeta's
particular timidity, whenever called to
exercise her musical talent singly with
Rupert, by degrees excited Meeta^s
attention to this anxiety itself; it alarmed
— it shocked — it overwhelmed her. She
scarcely doubted that her secret had not

OF. MARIENDORPT. 87

eaetped the€;re of this affectionate and
discerning friend : and as she felt now,
her pitjing manner, a feding of intense
gratitude, mixed with the bitter sense of
hioniliation.

An unexpected circumstance con-
firmed this observation.

Two or three neighbouring families
w€ire joined to those of Mr. Vanderhoven
at the parsonage one evening, and,
after an impromptu dance on the bowling,
green at sun-set, they were just returned
to Madame Krazau and Ar^aberg in the
arbour, where they were to isop, when a
a packet was brought to Rupert ; -^ it
came from the army.

Prefacing the act by a few words of
graceful apology, he broke the seal, and
walked forwards to the front of the
arbour to read his letter.

Madame Roselheim, who had entered
on the arim of Meeta, and was now with
her at the lower end of this rural hall.

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S8 THE VILLAGE

followed her son, while retaining Meeta'^
support*

** No summons for him, I hope !'* she
faintly whispered, after some minutes
close observation of his countenance.
Meeta's heart caught the alarm of her's,
and stopped its pulsation : her swift eye
glancing over Rupert's face, saw it grave
and sad. " Oh Heaven !** she exclaimed,^
forgetting every thing, at that moment,
except the dread of his recall into war
and danger.

Her exclamation electrified Madame
Roselheim ; who felt instantly the ne-
cessity of saving a young heart from the
future agony of knowing that it had be-
trayed itself : she drew her arm from
under Meeta'd, saying kindly, « Do not
stay here, Meeta ;— you will feel too much
for me if — go, go into the house, I shall
need you there, perhaps.'*

Her friend's true meaning flashed upon
Meeta ; the momentary glance of those
soft and pitying eyes had the effect of

i

OF MARIENDQRPT. 89

jjiffhtning : it seemed to wither her ; but
recovering her power of thought and
movement, with a burning blush she
glided past Rupert, and disappeared.

Madame Roselheim approached her
son, and cast a troubled look over the
paper he held. « Thank God!*' she
exclaimed, " I see my brother Melchior's
hand ! if he is well, what other news can
' affect you thus, my son ? — Are you ~-'*
The apprehensive mother could not arti-
ticulate more.

... ** Not recalled, dearest mother" he
.reptiedi, gently leading her forth under
• the trees; ** but my news is not agree-
able. There has been a severe* engage-
ment, in which I have lost many friends ;
— ronly friends.'* He added, seeing the
effect of this information, " One of my
truest well-wishers, though little of a
personal friend, is taken from me, in
Count Cratzenstein : he is killed." Ru-
pert's voice faltered at the conclusion.

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9G THiE VtLLAGt

and he brushed his hand across his eyes i
and tried to smile« *« I am not yet
hardened enough to these things: and
the poor Count laid the first stone of
my fortune."

His mother did not immediately an<^
swer ; the pang of alarm which had seized
her when he spoke of lost fiiends^ had
not quite passed away, and her heart was
yet vibrating between fear and thanks
fulness.

** I am sincerely sorry for the
death of the Count ; she said at length,
her eyes sufiusing more, as she proceeded,
** but if it has pleased Providence to pre-
serve others^ — to preserve also your
noble patron the Field Marshal !" —

" Ah, my mother," interrupted Ru-
pert, *^ my uncle tells me, that the brave
Torstenson is not likely to remain at the
head of the Swedish army : he is about
to retire ; and if he goes, I lose not only
the precious privilege of his society, but,

OF UAMSESOOHPt. ^t

vt too probably, all my high-oraised hopes %
yi — and for your sake, I would fain be, — *'
3if lie left the sentence unfinished.
( His mother pressed his hand against

her heart : " Let us not anticipate evil,
s my Rupert« Your good uncle does not
s always report correctly j because he does

it hastily. He is apt to despond for him-

n self upon matters of promotion, so may
il doit for you too. The Marshal's re-

signation -^^
\ '< Is too certain, I fear,'' was her son's

reply } << excessive fatigue before and
after the battle I spoke of, and several
nights bivouacking upon marshy ground,
additionally soaked by heavy rains, have
brought on an ague, which has made
s^ havoc with his][shattered constitution.
The medical men positively order him
to retire from service ; and he has written
to the Swedish Regency, for permission
to. do 80. Thus I must make up my
mind to lose this invaluable friend thuti

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THE VILLAGE

early in my military career ; God grant
it may be for the saving of his life !'*

Rupert ended with a sigh, heavier
than the occasion seemed to justify j —
heavier than was frequent, with his
happy and hoping nature. But he had
greater cause of concern, than he chose *
to pain his mother by imparting to her.

General Wrangel was mentioned as
the probable successor of Torstenson,
and from him Rupert knew he had no
personal favour to hope. Wrangel was
brave, able, and strong-minded, but his "^
morals were unsound, his passions law-
less, and his petty jealousy in affairs of
gallantry, was known to have obstructed
the advancement of younger and hand-
somer officers. After the unintentional
injury which Rupert had done him with
the beauty at Halle, the latter had taken
care to avoid similar ground of offence,
but Wrangel either resented that ptst
defeat, or expected future ones from the
same hand ; and estimating conquests

A

OF MARIEMDORPT. 93

of this nature at a high price himself, he
concluded Rupert had vanity enough to
do the same, and thus he acquired the
habit of considering the young subaltern
in the light of an insolent adversary.

From these circumstances it was not
difficult to foresee the personal conse*
quences of this . unlucky change of com*
manders ; and the suddenness as well as
severity of the misfortune;, fairly van*
quished Rupert's spirit. Perhaps ,un«
known to himself be had raised a
hope of rising to a situation in which* he
might indulge his tender preference of
Meeta, without injury to his first and
dearest duty towards his mother, and
that, through the united power of his
own exertions, and the marshal's fiiend-
ship. Be that as it may, he tried to
rally, and said something in censure of
his own weak despondency.

<* My son," exclaimed his mother, re-
garding him with the fullest and tender*
est approbation, <« do I not know that

tifar tiiii It I II I ItJtmma^mKmdL^aSBf

94« THE VILLAGE

you wish to be honoured and rioh^ only
for xny sake! Why then blame this
just regret ? but indeed you magnify the
evils of this change of Generals. The
same merit which recommended you to
Count Cratzenstein and the marshali will
make a firiend and patron of his succeSi-
sor, whoever that may be. The greatest
cause of grief I find, is that you are to
lose the benefit of the noble Torstenson's
society ; and that you lose it in consef*
quence of his impaired health.''

*< Yes, yes, these are the real evils."
Rupert thoughtfully answered, returning,
to his letter. Madame Roselheim all
at once recollected Meeta. *♦ I'll leave
you to settle your thoughts,'^ she said
gently, and anxious to relieve the sus*
pence of the poor absent one, turned
towards the house.

Meeta appealed from it at the same
instant. She had gone thither, completely
ovwwfaelmed with shame, and ht some
time believed herself incapable of evei*

OF MARIENDORFT. 95

encountering again the eyes which had
warned her away: but first, the hope
arose, that Madame Roselheim might
not entertain more than a slight suspi«
cion of her feelings ; then the stronger
one, that timely courage might entirely
eradicate that suspicion i and lastly, so
painful an eagerness to learn whether a
new trial threatened her, that she sum-*
moned resolution not to wait for the
dreaded communication.

With allowable deceit in both parties,
p— virtuous shame inspiring it on one
side, and the purest humanity on the
other, they now advsmced, and met.
f* Dismiss your kind fears for me, my
dear Meeta/' exclaimed the sofl and
encouraging voice of her tenderest
friend, ^' my son is not recalled : I may
be happy still.- '.

That delicate , mode of allaying an-
other's unauthorised fears, thrilled the
the soul of Meeta: a variety of con*
tradictory emotions made her tremble

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96 THE VILLAGE

frbm head to faot. She was unpractised
even in such, holy dissembling as the
present ; and though she spoke not,
though she could sooner have died, than
have owned her strong sense of that
quick-sighted affection which had savied
her surprised heart from exposing itself
to Rupert, and to others; she gave
Madame Roselheim a glance of the
liveliest gratitude, while the carnation
blood of her cheeks was almost seen to
ihrob, as it deepened into vermilion.

Without appearing to notice this tell-
tale glow, Madame Roselheim; as they
turned back to rejoin the company in
the arbsDur, briefly acquainted her witli
the nature of Rupert's letters. Meeta,
though relieved from her first panic,
was too much oppressed by confusion,
and too sincerely grieved for Rupert,
to be. capable of distinct, or continu-
ed conversation; and both felt re-
lieved, therefore, when they found them-

OF MAAIEMDOBPT. 97

«dves mixed up again with their other
friends.

It was neither the fashion of the age,
nor of the country in whi^^h these per-
son9 lived> to banish every thing except
amusement from their social meetings.
Even mere acquaintance were supposed
to take such good-natured interest in
the gratifications or vexations of those
around them, that for one strongly
moved, to have masked either his joy
or sorrow, under a cjvil exterior of
undisturbed composure, would have been
considered as affectation, or as insult.

In Mariendorpt especially, all had ac<-
quired the right of participating in some
degree with every member of their mini-
ster's family z and while Madame Rosel-
heim with a gentle $igh, now explained
the cause of her temporary absence, and
of her son's grave fjEice, she feared not
the inward vexation of her neighbours,
at this shade thrown over themselves.
Sincere sympathy was expressed, true

VOL. III. P

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^ THE VILLAGE

concern shown : but that done, cheers
fuller ideas were suggested j and the
kind-hearted Hollanders joined Adolpha
and Madame Krazau, in reviving pre-
dictions that Marshal Torstenson would
recover his health, return to his com-,
mand, and make Rupert a colonel at
least. As no sorcery, however, could
restore Count Cratzenstein to life, they
forbore to speak of him,

Rupert yielded to these benevolent
intentions, and smiled at his predicted
honours : and, although the general tone
of hilarity with which the evening com-
menced was greatly lowered, one of
amiable affectionateness took its place $
and serious, yet not melancholy con-
versation prevailed after supper, instead
of mirth and music.

Amongst so many persons interested
in Rupert, Meeta's greater proportion of
sympathy was less noticeable. During
many a delightful ramble with him in the
early days of his residence at Marien-

ioqIc

OF MARIENDORPT. 99

dorpt, Torstenson's character and mHu
tary history had been their sole theme :
so that, well-acquainted with the latter's
worth, an,d with the importance of hi»
favour to a young candidate for the same
fortune, Meeta felt all the weight of the
blow which had depressed the being
most precious to her.

But her paramount feeling was the
consciousness of having betrayed her
weakness to the honoured eyes of Ma-
dame Roselheim. And, although that
indulgent friend (justly relying upon
Meeta's awakened guard of herself) had
now resumed her usual tranquillity of
look and manner, while addressing her,
a constant thrill of confusion running*
through the veins of the latter, whenever
she met her eyes, renewed again and
again the impression of the past distres-
sing moment.

How did she envy the happy Adolpha,
who, privileged to show all her interest
in the mother and the son, appeared
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100

THE VILLAGE

under the most favorable aspect ! AdpU
pba, indeed, showed more than her usual
depth of feeling upon this occasion j and
when the party broke up, after con-
versing awhile with her protectress, she
took Mr.Aremberg aside, and walked
with him alone some time.

In despite of her grateful friendship
for Aremberg, Adolpha had confessed to
Meeta that she stood fearfully in awe of
him ; consequently this voluntary tete-
d'tete proved how interested she must
be in the subject of their discourse. —
It was interesting to her : it contained a
frank acknowledgment on her part of an
earnest wish to serve her brave cousin
in some way ; and for that purpose, she
begged his friend to let her know as soon
as possible who succeeded to the com-
mand of Marshal Tprstenson, as many of
their Danish connections had friends of
high influence in the Swedish councils,
and it might' be in Madame Krazau's
power, through their meai\s, to procure

i^Ie

.OF MABIENnORPT. 101

sach recommehdadohs for Rupert to the
new General, as might indemnify him in
the way of promotion for the loss of his
two first milltaiy patrons.

Receiving Aremberg's promise to do
thisy she slipped back again to her god-
mother.

After Muhldenau's family were ' re-
tonied home^ and their nightly prayei^
readi Rupert, instead of going directly v
ta bis room, went out into the garden
with Aremberg, and remained there some
time after the other's depsurture* .

Meeta observed that he was still wag-
ing by himself, when she approached hei*
TJwindowtaopen it completely^ on retiring
to rest

The vine which covered all that side
of the house, and even spread above the
roof of her present chamber, formed so |jb.

thick a curtain before her casement, that t.

she was not likely to be visible froqi
within : she extinguished her light how- ^

■u

T #^ ■- If Digftke.dkyV^fOO^ll

1lO& the village.

ever^ and indulged hersdf for an interval^
in contemplating Rupert by the waning
moonlight.

Never had she seen his countenance
with a similar expression in it. A fixed
seriousness had taken place of ite usual
cheerful sweetness: and as he slowly
walked up and down» the faint moon-
beam occasionally striking on his figure,
through openings itn the high dark
shrubs, made him appear unusually pal^
and thus gave increased interest to his
whole appearance. The regular return
of his military step had something so-
lemn in it, heard thus in the deep repose
of night : Meeta felt it, like melancholy
music. She believed him revolving the
hews from the army ; and, Considering
the line of conduct he ought to pursue
in consequence ; and^ as she thought thi%
future probabilties came rushing on her
with overwhelming force.

Perhaps the letter he had received this
night might be destined to fix his fate in

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OF MABISKDOBPT* 10^

domestic life. Upon the present occasion,
Adolpha had shown her interest in him
without an attempt at conceaknent ; so
that if hitherto he had been deterred,
i^om ascertaining his hope of success,
through apprehension of failure, Meetac
thought he must now be encouraged to
dare the one, and expect the other. From
Madame Krazau too, she fancied there
would be no opgfisition j or, if there were,
her opposition in this world was not
likely to endure long : she was evidently
^st slipping out of life*

Conceiving that similar conclusions
must have been made by Rupert, Meeta
judged him at this moment revolving
them in his mind, and settling his future
plans in consequence.

But why did not an air of tender joy,
or of passionate impatience soften. the
meditative bend of his ^brow ? Could
there be n prospect of greater earth|^
felicity for any mortal, than that of an
union with the woman he loved, and that
F 4

1:*^*^,^.

^

IM THE ViLLAOE

woman the object of general admiration,
with fortune to rid him of every care, ac-
complishments to honour, and virtues to
bless him ?

Meeta's insidious heart would have
reminded her of many a look, many an
escaped word from Rupert, which it
seemed impossible for her to have ex-
cited, had his whole heart really be-
longed to another : but 6he turned reso-
lutely away from such suggestions ; only
suffering herself to fear that his heart
was yet unwon, and that if he should oBkr
himself 9t last to Adolpha, it would be
rather from motives of gratitude for her
generous attachment, and from con-
sideration of his mother's natural wishes,
than from such a spontaneous sentiment
as gives transport to the person who may
indulge it*

So imperfect a happiness for Rupert,
for whom Meeta thought even the high-
est earthly felicity poor and tasteless,
was bitterness to contemplate ; and she

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I

OF MABISNDOBrr. lOfi

Stood with eyes swimming in tears,
mournfully regarding him, as he conti<»
nued his solitary walk up and down.

For heiselfy she ventured not to in^
dulge.any r^et. Happily her natural
romance . of feding had been timely
moderated . by a knowledge of her pa?
rents' sufferings from the want of that
•*:dros8*' which: youth generously dis-
dains, and ignorfutly believes unworthy
thought. She had heard too many
accounts of the extreme misery into
which imprudent ' young persons had
plunged their exiled families by gratify-
ing an otherwise honourable section
in defiance of mutual penury: she had
witnessed* too often the pain with which
Madame Roselheim received the bounty
of her good brother-in-law, jaot . to ac-
Jaiowledge that a com^petence of scMiie
sort, at least a fair prospect of such com-
petence, is necessary, ^ere two hearts
dare yield themselves up to the very
best species of attacjbiment.
F 5

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106 . THE riLLAGB

And if she, so yoaag and inexperi-'
meed, could own the sad importance of
such considerations^ what must they be
in the just estimate of a parent? Thus,
while Meeta believed Madame Rosd-
heim anxious for her son's union wiAf
Adolpha^ though aware of the former's
devotedness to him, she did not blame
Ah perfect friend, but rather honoured
her maternal a£fection»

Murmuring prayers, therefore, in Ra*
pert's behalf; intreating Heaven to influ-
ence his judgment so as to produce the
greatest happiness for himself and his
mother ; and asking for her own self only
perfect, submission, she withdrew from
the window, leaving Rupert still wrapt
in silent meditation.

The meditations Meeta had fancied
for him, were not very unlike those he
really pursued. Struck by Adolpha's
earnest wish to serve him, as reported
by Aremberg, and awakened by the mere
arrival of his uncle's letter, to the me-

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OF MAROBHOQltrr. lOfJ

m isaoTj of former floating thoughts about
ri her, he was in truth seriously ^uikiDg
s« himself whether those passing moments
Ii of flattered consciousness, and strongly*
1m etcited interest, did not impose the ne«
m cessity upon him of offering her the
^ fa^art she might th«is have been led to
m consider as at her command ?
^ Though certain that he had never inten«

tionally, or involuntarily, breathed a
jt word translateable into the language of
li passion,. he thought that perhaps he had
^x been culpably undecided, when his uncle
jr first noticed Adolpha's regard, and laid
^ its great advantages before him; and
jy that even his perfect inexperience of
^ love did not excuse him for having been
so long dubious whether he ought not
. to g^e that name to the affectionate

. admiration she inspired ?
J There was something within him now,

which assured him that he had never
felt any spontaneous wish of h^i^ more
to her than a friend and cousin. ,
F 6

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108 THE VILLAGE

This very absence of such a desire, on-
the present occasion, made him readily
believe what, had it promised him happi-
ness, he would: with diflSculty have be-
lieved, and generoAlsly have forborne to
act upon, her secret preference. And
though he deemed it unlikely that Ma«
dame Krazau should consent to such a
match, be knew npt whether he ought
not, for his mother's sake, to court the
possible chance of success ; and at any
rate for Adolpha's, propitiate her delicacy,
and make the sacri£k:e of his own pri-*
vate wishes, by offering her those afiec-
tions, upon which perhaps his surprised
vanity, or grateful kindliness had taught
her to reckon.

Removed from his uncle's constant
remarks, and surrounded by persons who
knew Adolpha merely as the equal friend
of both her preservers, he had insensibly
forgotten to consider her in a nearer
point of view : Aremberg had forborne
advice, n^y even raillery upon the sub**

OF MARIENBOBFT. 109

ject ; Madame Roselheitn appeared not
to dream of such a circumstance j so
that it was not until the moment in
wMch her coming was announced by
Madame Krazau's letter^ that Rupert
felt conscious, something more than a
relation's feeling might be leading
Adolpha to Mariendorpt*

But how ea:ch of jtfiem might feel/
when they met again, after the lapse of ^
so many months, was a matter of conjee*
ture : by that time Adolpha might have
worn out her slight liking for him ; and
in that case, all Rupert's perplexities
would vanish. He could not disguise
from himself, that such a termination
would cause him joy.

The strange disturbance he expe-^
rienced, when, having playfully tfixed
Meeta with abetting the design against
Aremberg's heart, her agitation seemed
first to acknowledge, and then to deny
iti — that disturbance, had for a brief

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illi) THE VZLLAOB

instant caused him to Mart at his own
danger: but, resolving to^ think the
weakness he dreaded, impossible to a son
bound to labour solely for the dearest
of mothers, he had so successfully ba-
nished that conversation from his
thoughts, that it was only now and then
Meeta's sensitive heart could feel quick
vibration with 80£(ie passing emotion of
bis. It was not, indeed, till Rupert
actually saw her by the side of Adolpha,
and felt the wide difference of the emo-
tions they caused him, that he was coii-
vinced his growing delight at Marien-^
dorpt had another cause, besides that of
bis mother's society-

]From that moment, he felt greater
difficulty in resisting the pleasure of
comparing these interesting rivals with
each other ; a comparison which always
seemed to justify to himself, the tender
preference accorded to Meeta : he did
resist it, however ; and never, for a single

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OP liABIBNDOlFr. Ill

insUoti penmtfied himself to imagine
the possibility of safely indulging in it,
at a future time*

Thus, the sole fruit poor Meeta was
likely to gather from this smothered j>re*
ference, was the bosom-tribute of his
present indifference to the woman, higher
gifted by fortune than herself:— *• the
period was perhaps not far distant, when,
totally extinguished for her, reason and
gratitude might succeed in reluming the
fire afresh, and directing it towards this
very object.

Upon this last visionary hope, Rupert
was, in truth, revolving now: hope, it
may be termed, since both duty and
tenderness made his mother's restoration
to something like her former affluence
and station, the dearest aim. of his life.
For her sake, therefore, he bent his spirit
to calculate the worldly advantages of a
marriage with one as rich as amiable;
for her sake, he felt that he could tear
from his heart, even wishes deeper root-

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112 THE VILLAGE

ed, hopes wider blown, than those which
had silently grown up there for Meeta }
but the longer he reflected, the noore was
he convinced, that he could not cheat a
devoted and trusting creature, into a
false* belief of being fondly beloved,
when she was but calmly esteemed.
It was not yet, therefore, he concluded,
that he ought to offer himself to Adolpha :
it was incumbent upon him to wait,
until the impression made by Meeta
should be quite efiaced by time and his
own conscientious self-denial ; after
which, he might hope to cultivate a true
affection for Adolpha, growing out of
more attentive consideration of her many
excellencies, and a stronger conviction,
than he could even now pm'suade him-
self to entertain, of her decided pre-
ference.

Fixed in such resolutions, Rupert
resolved to " think no more,** that night;
and, quitting the garden, he repaired to
his chamber, where, commending his

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OF MARIBNJ>ORPT» . 115

thoughts and actions to the guidance of
a higher Power, as earnestly, though
more briefly than Meeta had done, he
sunk by degrees into the quiet sleep
bestowed on virtue*

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1 14 THE VILLAGE .

CHAI>. IV.

•«%.v

FoETUNATELY for Rupert, Colonel Rosel-
jbeiin^s letter contained nothing which
could create aw;kwardness in him, on the
subject of Adolpha Falkenberg. The
Colonel's head, while writing, had been
too full of vexatious military changes,
for any further mention of that lady, than
what was given in a congratulation of
himself for having had her embroidered
scarf upon his shoulders, when all the
rest of his accoutrements fell into the
hands of the enemy. Rvpert therefore
discussed the letter with his mother, the
next day, without any embarrassment.

A night^s rest, or reflection, had calm-
ed the agitations of both mother and son,
when they met to review their feelings
of the evening past. Rupert would fain

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OF MAEIEKOORPT. 1 1^

have persuaded his mother of what he
tried to believe himself, th^the was once
more fit for active service. The resttwred,
use of his arm seemed indeed to give colour
to this assertion : but though the Francis*
can^s skill had greatly subdued the effects
of the. internal injury his patient had re-
ceived, the latter was inwardly conscious
that so long as strict regimen, avoidance
of night-damps, and abstinence from vio*
Itot exercise were requisite, so long must
he consider himself unable to brave the
casualties of war.

Under this impression, he could not
make a successful stand against the ten*
der questionings of his mother, and the
serious expostulations of Father Joachim^
when he would have obtained their con-
tent to silence Colonel Roselheim^s rough
censure of idlers and stay-aUhomes^ by
immediately rejoining the army.

Independent of the mortification ex*
cited by his nucleus contemptuous raillery^
the young soldier fancied that every mo-

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116 THE VILLAGE

ment lost, at his age, and in his profes*
sion, was irretrievable : he was anxious
nof, to mijs any opportunity of distinguish-
ing himself; since every step he might
$o obtain, must enlarge his means of tes*
tifying his affection for his mother, and
contribute to that feeling of honourable
independence for her and for himself,
which he thirsted to attain. He was de*
slrous, also, of seeing the noble Torsten-
8on,erethe removal of that hero from the
army ; not only in the hope of securing
his afiectionate remembrance hereafter ;
but that he might learn from him, the
best mode of honourably conciliating the
favor of those who were to succeed in
the command.

The government of PoQierania had
been always named as the Field-marshal's
reward, whenever he should choose to
claim it for his military labours ; so that
unless Rupert could give him the meet-
ing in that part of Germany, or proceied
immediately to the Swedish head-quar-

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OF MARISNl>ORPT. 1 17

ters, he was not likely to me^^ this va-
lued friend again. But the latter step
his health forbade j the former, poverty
denied.

Most things are practicable to the rich j
to the poor nearly all are impossible: only
at times like these, or when the distresses
of others cried out to him, in vain, did
Rupert feel more then his mother's
wrongs J one throb for himself, would then
rise in his gentle breast against his father.

But ever careful not to infect his mo-
ther with his regrets, or to draw upon
himself obligations which he might avoid
either by self-denial, or self-restraint, he
kept this cause of concern secret, not
only from her, but from Aremberg j so
true it is, that for perfect friendship,
perfect equality is necessary: delicacy
on one side, and generosity on the other,
rendering disparity of fortune, a justrea-
son.for reserve upon particular occasions.
A day or two pf pensivenesss in Ma-
dame Roselheim, and^ of seriousness in

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118r THE VILLAGE

her son, were the only visible traces left
upon them, by the unpleasant news con-
tained in Colonel Roselheim's letter. Both
felt with due gratitude that what they
grieved at, was rather a disappointment
than a calamity ; the loss of a hope, not
the bereavementof an actual blessings and
that consequently, though they might be
permitted to shrink under the stroke, they
would be unpardonable t6 let it crush them*

It was time, indeed, to dismiss such
absorbingthoughts as render us unsocial :
the immediate circle round them claioied
attention: for the unpleasant liour of
parting with Madame Krazau and Adol-'
pha approached.

Every one dreaded that hour ; every one
except the very person who was supposed
the least able to encounter it. In truth,
so far from testifying a lover-like sadness
upoii this occasion, Rupert, unknown to
/to himself, felt his spirits rise in propor-
tion as that hour drew nearer. Although
closer acquaintance with his charming

)Qle

Ot HARIENDORPT. 119

coasin had increaged his affectionate e^
teem for her character, and convinced,
hitn that she merited the truest attach-
ment, a sentiment of uneasiness in her
presence, the consciousness of not liking
her enough, and the fear of being thought
to like her too well, rendered her society
a restraint rather then an enjoyment to
him. But he saw that her bright spirits
were often suddenly overcast, as the
dreaded day came on, and a pang of pity^
as often stopt him short in his endeavour
to amuse away her fit of dejection.

Meeta, too, who had lately surprised
Adolpha in tears more than once, though
she delicately forbore to notice it, even to
the confused weeper herself, yet beheld
her with the tenderest compassion, and
almost wished that Rupert were now as
sensible to her beauty and excellence, as
she had at first believed him.

Meeta could well afibrd such genero-
sity : her heart was deceitful like the most
of our frail species, and seemed to wish

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180 THE VILLAGS

more for Adolpha, in proportion as it
faftd less occasion to wish for itself. For
in spite of all Rupert's sincere resolutian$i
a look, a word would escape him, which
her beating heart translated only too
well Yet she forbore to dwell on those
throbs of blissful emotion ; turning from
them with this sighing apostrophe, ** At
least it is sweet to think that he could
have loved me, had fortune permitted
iti"

The night for Madame Krazau's depar-
ture was now fixed, and the day was to be
spent all together at the Parsonage.

It was the last of the bowery month of
June : Meeta had made every thing look
pretty within the house ; summer and
sunshine rendered all beautiful witliout.

When Mr. Vanderhoven entered with
his companions into the large light par-
lour, where they were to dine, he stopt to
pay more than his usual tribute of com- ^
pliment and comparison upon the oc-
casion.

14

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OF MARI^KBORPT. 131

The cloudless day was so liot, that
every window had been set openj so
adding the flowers and verdure of the
garden to the flowers and evergreens in
the room. No article of furniture had
escaped Meeeta^s passion for these na-
tural decorations j except only the chairs
they were to sit upon, and that ancient
sanctuary of family taste and family
pride — the buffet. Here Jemima griped
the sceptre — her hold being too tena-
cious for a gentler phrase, and in defi-
ance of Meeta's boldest efforts, had suc-
ceeded in displaying her full glitter of
venerable tankards, and parti-coloured
china, without one intrusive beau-pot to
mar their array. The clock, however,
she had abandoned without concern ;
and there, the figure of Time, put out of
sight by Meeta's roses and carnations,
afforded Mr, Vanderhoven a happy op-
portunity of jumbling flowers and plea-
sures together, in a figure of rlietoric.

" Miss Meeta is determined to com-

VOL. III. G

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122 TH£ ViLLAGZ V

tnemorate this day^ I perceive/' he added,
solemnly bowing to her.

« Yes/' observed Adolpha, with quick*
ness ; <' she has dressed it with a garland,
like Jjer own bright cheeks, as if it were
a day of rejoicing !" She smiled as she
said this, though something of a re-
proachful expression quivered over her
features, and glanced through the tear in
her eyes.

Meeta was pained and surprised, and
had not voice to reply: her father,
willing to make light of Adolpha's re*
mark, asked whether it were not usual to
dress victims with flowers ? and Rupert
whispered, " If Meeta's cheeks are like
a garland, 'tis a dew-sprinkled one just
now," directing Adolpha's attention to the
big tears which already trembled there.

Adolpha must have felt Uie mild ap-
peal of those tears, or the more serioust:
rebuke of Mr. Aremberg's astonished
look; for, giving sudden way to the strong
feeling of impatient sorrow which had

vGooqIc

OF MAIUSKPORPT. ISd

probably been working in her all the
way from Mr, Vanderhoven^s, she threw
herself sobbing upon Meeta's neck.

Madame Krazau, not unused to such
hasty bursts of sensibility in the young
creature, whose peculiar nature neither
fashion nor education could wholly con-
trcl, undertook to explain thia : the ej^-
planaUon was, indeed, natural aad e»y :
Adolpha had been so happy at Marien*
dorpt, she said» — so pleased with every*
thing and everybody ; she was going
away to a strange place, and knew not
when all here might meet again : and she
loved Meeta. so exceedingly, that her
sensitive feelings were hurt by the
momentary fancy, that their regret .. at
parting was not mutual.

All this, Adolpha, as she heard* coii6rm>
ed by man}^ a gasping affirmation, and
many an ardent pressuse of Meeta against,
heir labouring breast. The tears^ mean^
while, stole tenderly and softly down
Meeta^s blooming cheeks, as Madame,
o 2

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124f THE VILLAGE

Roselheim, with her soul-subduing voice,
and cheering smiles, every now and
then uttered a few words that assisted in
explaining, and excusing, and recon-
ciling, and restoring all parties to com-
posure;

Recovered from this embarrassing
burst of ungovemed emotion, and ex-
pressing sincere contrition for it, Adolpha,
all crimson with shame, yet trying to
banter herself, invited Meeta to wafk
with her in the garden till dinner.

During their short promenade, many
a fttrong assurance of mutual friendship
was exchanged ; and a lock of 'Meeta^s
beautiful hair was claimed by Adolpha,
in recompense for the copy of Eustatia
Vanderhoven's picture.

« And here is something not for your-
self, my dear Meeta,'' ^headied, putting
a smaH purse full •f gold coin into her
hand. " \Y^henev» *you see any poor
creature, whose wants may require more
than you can spare at the moment your-

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0? MARIENDORPT. 125

*

self, will you do me the kind office of
using this for me? I am the child of
charity myself ^ you know, and must not
forget my brothers and sisters* in af-
fliction.'* .

Not even the present, upon which
Meeta was yet bending her tearful eyes
with a mixture. of pain and pleasure,
could be more welcome than this con-
siderate donation. She felt, too, the
delicate mode by which this more fortu-
nate friend supplied her only want, that
of administering freely to the wants of
others : she felt that there coij^d.be no-
thing humiliating in thus becoming the
almoner of a benevolent spirit; yet her
colour he^htened as she received the
purse; and when she would have frankly
expressed her own amiable reason for ac*
cepting mxch a gift, embarrassment
chained her tongue* > . - -*

It. was the iirrt pecuiyary . piPesejpit
Meeta had ever, taken from any one ; and
she felt that reluctance about aecepthia
* G 3

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126 THE TILLAGE

it^ natural to youth upon such occasions ;
«^a reluctance which Providence has
stamped upon every ingenuous hearty to
form the safeguard of private independ-
ence» and of public good.

Adolpha interrupted her hesitating
attempt at acknowledgment ; and, fixing
het sparkling eyes upon her countenance
with a mournful softness^ in which their
usual ft'es went out> she said^ ^^ And now,
Jileetay promise to write to mewheneirer an
^pportuni^occurs,andtellme all theii^ws
«tf Marknflorpt — I mean« every tfaln^at
happenaJb^ those I am so sorry to leave.
Keep nothing back, I charge you, from
icardLessness or shyness : *-» tell me every
thing; be sure I shall rejoice to hear of
whatever makes all or any of you happy,
be it what it may ; even — " she added,^
lanothering a convulsive si^ in a forced
laugh, -— << if it should be your marriage
with — Mr. Vanderhoven P*

At the word marriage, Meeta's senses
were confounded } for she expected that

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.GOD^^-

OF MARI£KDOIU?T» 1^7

name to fi)llow, which she believed para-
mount in Adolpha's thoughts, as well as
her own. At mentionof Mr.Vanderhoven,
she recovered, and forcing an air of ba*
dinage^said, he was too magnificent a prize
for her to gain.**

" I believe you may have whom you
will, in this circle, Meeta,*' said Adolpha,
relapsing into sad seriousness} **md if
you han^ the power, I trust you know
how to value it. -^ There are hearts here,
o o sacred for trifling with.** -«»

All in disorder, alarm, ahd concern
for the supposed feelings of thg agitated
speaker, Meeta was going to abjure such
wide influence, when the appearance of
Mr. Aremberg advancing to summon
them to dinner, checked her tongue.
Adolpha hurried past him with an emo-
tion so evident, that he would not hazard
increasing it by a question ; yet he went
up to Meeta, who was atill holding the
miniature of Eustatia in her hand, and

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128 THE VILLAGE

who, hastening to put it in her pocket,
dropt it just at his feet.

To lift it from the ground j to start
and gaze on it j and, amidst a burst of
hoarded feelings, to enquire how such a
portrait was never known to him before,
were the actions of an instant : the secret
was confessed ; and having listened to it
in affecting silence, Aremberg, who had
all the time kept his eyes fixed 4Jpon the
picture, sighing as if his heart would
break, pressed it suddenly to that heart
with startjybg vehemence, and thrusting
it back ii^to the hand of Meeta, bade her
go into the house, and he would rejoin
her after a single turn in the walk, alone.

Meeta seeing how deeply he was. af-
fected, obeyed him without remark.

When Aremberg re-appeared, the party
were already seated at table : he took his
place without speaking ; but, as he did so,
his modest eye, which never spoke fully,
exc^t on great occasions, was directed
for a moment towards Adolphas with

^- J

i

- % ' • -^^

OF MARIENDOEPT. 129

such, an exprassioO) that Meeta thrilled
with. sudden fear for him, and sighed to
think that AdQlpha's heart was no longer
to be won.

The late incident had settled the tem-
per of the day : each individual of the com-
pany was thrown off their poise by it ; all
were, indeed, too truly attached to each
other, not to feel their spirits unequal to
exertion i^nd thecertainty of an approach-
ing pang poisoned present enjoyment.

Madame Krazau more than once dropt
a melancholy foreboding, that she at least,
should never sit at that peaceful board
again ; and Aremberg, plunged in a sor-
rowful reverie, sighed so often and so
deeply, that he startled every one.

Meeta, observing the disquiet of his
uncle and his friend, at this dejection,
took an opportunity of whispering to both
alternately, its probable cause, — the un-
expected sight pf Eustatia^s miniature : his
depression thus accounted for, they ab-
stained from noticing it to himself.
G 5

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190 tHS VXLLAGB

Aftw dinner^ S6 much of the day re-
mained, that such of the gentlemen as
had regular employments, betook them«
selves to them for a- while ; Muhldenaii
retired to his stady ; and Aremberg went
out into the village, to attend some adult
scholars^ who were anxious to learn from
him how to read the comforter of* old age,
the Holy Scriptures, lijadame Krazau
leaned back in her high-elbowed chair to
rest her languid spirits ; while the othet
ladies sat down to useful needle-work.
Mr. Vanderhoven told anecdotes of per-
sons long gone to their graves, equally
unknown to his hearers, as to fame ; and
Rupert made sketches for Adolpha, of
every object round Mariendorpt, of which
she asked for a memorandum.

As her son made these slight drawings,
and Adolpha received them, Madame
Roselheim silently observed their very
different manners. Adolpha sought and
obtained these remembrances of the place
she cotifessed to like so much, with an

•

i

09 XiAitiSKOOitPT. ISl

agitated sensibility ill-dissembled under
an air of girlish whiitt : Rupert indulged
her in it with an easy good nature, which
evidently sought no occult fiieaning in
lier conduct. It was clear, therefore that
his heart was not on the watch, to trans-
late Adolpha's regrets and inconsisten-
cies, into a flattering feeling for himself.
« She is ifien nothing to him !'* Ma-
dame Hoselheim thought pensively, —
** Poor Adolpha ! -^ and thy fate then, ' my
son, is yet to be known. — Who is to win
thee ? — Who deserves thee ?"
' Madame Roselheim's softened eyes
moistened unconsciously, as she turned
them alternately from Adolpha to Meeta,
and from Meeta to Rupert. She la-
mented that the iron destiny of the two
last, forbade her to wish hfer soft sensible
to the saiiie sentiment wTiich Meeta,
she wa^ to& well aifetired, felt for him j
aiid 'iwfh aiiothet's and friend's mingled
cfredd andidea&rfe, she lost hefself in ittia-
j^ingtheiifiutttffefortuiidA. Both were
©6

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IdS THE VILLAGE

nearly equally dear to her; and though
she fondly believed the dearest of them
free from that cruel torment, for which
her heart was wrung with pity for the
other, still she trembled lest, at some fu-
ture day, he might become sensible to
such touching tenderness, or love one,
either too rich or too poor for their mu-
tual happiness.

The weather at this period was unusu-
ally hot; and the present was one of
those days, in which noon has the still-
ness of midnight. Not a breath of air
stirred either the leaves of the vine, which
obscured the light of one window j nor
moved the freer branches of a huge wal-
nut-tree, which through the other, cast
a grateful coolness and its green shadow
into the room. The humming of Meeta's
bees, over beds of mignionette under the
last mentioned window, was the only
sound that came from without : their lul-
ling murmurs by degrees closed the eyes
of Madame Krazau, and civility to the

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OF MARIfiNDOBPT. 168

slumbers of an: invalid, forming a plau^
sible excuse for silence in the rest of the
party, Mr. Vanderhoven stole down. a
book of prints, and each of the others re** ^
tired into their own thoughts.

By the time the absent members of the
party re^assembled, every one of them
wore a more disengaged appearance ; and
as the evening came on, a gentle breeze
began tO; move among the shrubs, and
masses of magnificent clouds to float be-
fore the sun.

The heat, till now, had been too op«
pressive j but the present coolness was
only the more delicious after it ; and
with one consent they removed into the
open air.

While the others sauntered about; or
sat down in the blushing, breathing gar-
den, aa inclination prompted Madame
Roselheim attentively led Madame KA-
zau into the summer room by the 'water's
edge, where the breeze was yet fresher,
and some protection affi)rdedi against a

*ii

If

»

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I94f TfiB TILLAGB

ofaill from the ground : there, the latter,
saiously adverting to her fastMleclining
health, talked with regret of leaving
Adolpha, though^ amply provided for,
without a protector. She then besought
Madame Roselheim to promise that she
would go immediately to the forlorn
orphan, whenever she should hear that
Providence had taken her present friend.
« And if my poor girl feels unwilling,
at such a time, to remain in a scene that
must be sorrowful to her,^^ said the
invalid, dropping a tear, << may I hope
that you will take her back with you to
Mariendorpt ! and keep her amongst yoii,
til her spirits return, or till she bestow
herself upon some deserving man : so he
be but her equal in birth and merit, I
care not; and she is not ambitious,
otherwise. •— It is unnecessary to follow
Madiune Krazau through the little his-
tory of Adolpha^B rejected proposals of
macriag^ which she insensibly r^eated,
in the Mness of a be^i that "paitially

OF ItAAlBKDOilFT. 135

regretted what she proilMsed to coq'
sider only with approbation i her god*
dau^ter's indifference to ofibred rank.

The lenient person to whom sbet ad*
dressed this/ forgavo the nattftal vHdity
of afl^ction for its object $ and believed
the kindness of Madame Krazau not
the less sincere, that it was not managed
more delicately. Touched with th^
gelnerotis enconragement thib discdurse
eiridently held forth to her son^ and the
fileedom it bestowed upon Adolpha^s in^'
clinationsi Madame Roselheim sighed td
think thait her Rupert was not likely t6
benefit by snch rare disintetestednetRi |
y6t she gave the promise re^db-edi both
a^afriend and arelative, accomp^ying it
with expressions of soothing" attgiiiyfo^
the health of the invalid.

Madame Krazau shook ber head, and
sunk into dejected silence j from which
th6 entitmce o|*the mitAMk andMr. Vimi*
de^hoven^ ronsed iier: aftei^^whidH ^

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136 THE VILLAGE

conversation assumed a more.cheerful and
less confidential turn.

Meanwhile, the younger part of the
company rambled from the garden into
the meadows, admiring the luminous
changes of the sky, where volumes of
snowy clouds were arranging themselves
in glorious succession along the western
horizon ; promising a splendid spectacle,
when the sun should reach their majestic
heads. The refulgent orb itself blazing
like some angelic vision in its radiant
car, from the centre of a glittering cloud,
was rapidly descending towards these
alps of Heaven: his glorious progress
arrested the attention of the ramblers.
The contemplation of so magnificent an
object, drew their thoughts from their
own immediate concerns, and Adolpha
soon attended with evident interest,, to
the almost inspired language, of Arem-
berg. His imagination, indeed, nay
his heart too, was always particularly
awakened, by speculations upon the phe-

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OP MARIENDOftPT. 137

nomena of the heavens; and he now
walked by her side, not coldly explain-
ing the fonnation of vapours into the
beautiful appearances they were witness*
ing, but talking of other worlds in other
planets, with a holy earnestness which
won her quite out of herself.

Meeta, to whom the subject of astro-
nomy was rendered familiar by her father^
and Rupert, who was never more happy
than when transporting his friend into his
finest mood, prevented Aremberg from
stopping in his ardent course, by timely
suggesting new subjects of poetical con-
jecture, or such as awaken a higher
order of enthusiasm. During thtsir walk,
the sun sunk behind the embattled
clouds, leaving their ilkiininated points,
tinged with ten thousand vivid colours ;
and as these chained, first steepening,
and then wholly fading, the evening
star was seen in the clew blue ether j
trembling above the high and' darkened
clouds, which now s^peared like some

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138 tH£ ViLtAGIi

extensive fortress^ stretching along the
horizon in silent ffitid solitary majesty.

The soft and silvery light of that sin-
^e star, thus solemnly contrasted, threw a
shade of^ensiveness over the enthusiastic
feelings inspired hy the sunset and the
equal glow of Aremberg's conversation,
so that each of his youthful hearers sunk
back into their own thoughts, when he
ceased to speak*

Adolpha was the first to break their
silencCi .

** When I shall next see that star,^^ she
said, — and stopt: her eyes were wet
with tears*' << You will tibiink of us, I
hope, my dear cousin ?'^ said Rupert,
pressing her hand*

" I promise yoUj we Ivill think of you,**
and he sighed.

Aremberg, on the other side, murmur-
ed some words which Meeta did not hear,
but she saw that he also pressed a hand
<^ Adolpha; he touched that hand only
an instant } Rupert retained the eoe he
had taken.

OF MARIENDORPT. 139

Adolpha's emotioH was excessive:
she seemed scarcely able to support her-
self; and Meeta thought she saw on her
expressive countenance^ the full efieot of
Rupert's undisguised tenderness. There
was grief, there was joy in that counte-
nance,-— a something, in short, which
seemed to say that Adolpha could at
this instant have willingly yielded up
life, satisfied with the bliss she then ex-
perienced.

Whatever the emotion w|ts, it was
potent enough to take from Adolpha the
power of speech: Meeta felt her own
heart withering ; but she found v(Hce to
tell their companions that they overcame
her friend, and had better, therefore,
leave them to walk back by themsdves.

Arembergthen drew Rupert away, and
turned with him towards a cluster of elms
at a short distance.

When their figures disa|>peared amqpg
the trees, Adolpha lost ail feeling of
restrain^ and burst into tears. Meeta
pressed her hand in embarrassed sflence;

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l40 THE VILLAGE

doubtful whether she ought or ought
liot to take particular notice of this
second paroxysm of tumultuary feel-
ii^ in her new friend j but unable to
decide, and hesitating still, she gradually
moved forwards with her, towards their
home. She herself could not weep :
though a dismal weight hung upon her:
heart, bearing down all its former fond
fancies about love and Rupert.

" I know not what you will ih;nk of
me, dearest Meeta^** at length Adolpha
said J " you are sorry to part with us> yet
can command yourself, and I cannot I —
but you are staying, —I am going! —
you, lose only one or two that you love,
and 1 leave -^ matiy !** The passionate
sigh which burst forth with this last
word, Meeta too truly felt, belonged but
to one of that many ; and she could have
echoed it for herself. She stifled, how-
ever every selfish consideration, uttering
only words of grateful and cheering af-
fection to her agitated companion.

OF MARIBKDOBPT* 141

By the time they reached the Parson-
age garden, her soothing rhetoric had
taken efiecti and Adolpha, flattered with
the assurance of being dear to every per-
son there, became calm. For the re»
maipder of the evening she was more
thoughtful and silent than usual ^ but
there was an expression of tender satis-
faction, of tremulous expectancy in her
eyes, which, while it made them infi-
nitely more beautiful than when in their
glittering dress, convinced Meeta that
Adolpha was still thrilling with the re-
collection of Rupert's perhaps^r^f testis
mony of deep interest.

After a longer absence than might
have been expected, Rupert and Arem-
berg rejoined the party, now all collect-
ed in the summer*room, where part of
them had been left. They also brought
back serener faces than they carried awayj
and the short remnant of the time 'passed
off more cheerfully, than might have been
anticipated from their meeting earlier in

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142 THE VILLAOS

ihe day* Rupert talked with confidence
of their all meeting again in health and
happiness; predicted a speedy end to
the waff to the marring of his advance-
ment; and promised, whenever that should
happen, to bring his mother to Alsace.

Madame Krazau sighed at this promise,
as thinking she should not live to witness
its fulfilment: yet she pressed their
other surrounding friends to make a si-
milar one; and at length won Muhide-
nau, to jallow them the hope of a visit
from Meeta, whenever either Mr. Vander-
hoven or Madame Roselheim would un-
dertake the journey with her.

Purjing her share in this discourse,
Adolpha now and then shone out with
her customary brilliancy ; although never
once did she appear entirely that highly-
polished creature she had appeared at
first. Her sensibility was too completely
roused, for the veil of courtly elegance to
be long or easily worn : and as if hope or
happiness conquered her more effectually

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OF MARiENDORPT. 143

than de^ndency, she was evidently less
careful than fonnerly, of the looks and
language that betrayed her regrets.

Meeta saw, or fancied she saw, a tee*
derer expression than was wont, when
he ^regarded his charming cousin, in the
eye3 of Rupert : the observation did
not raise her spimts ) and when her father
called upon her to close the evening, and
hallow the parting hour, by a favourite
hymn, her voice was low and faltering;

She sang, however ; and her own sweet
voice, like the harp of David, or rather
the confidence in her Maker's wisdom
and goodness, which the words of her
hymn breathed, banished the fiend of
selfishness : and when she pressed Adol-
pha to her guileless breast, as they took
leave of each other, it swelled with a sin*
cere prayer for her happiness, even though
that were only attainable by an union
with Rupert.

As the travellers were to proceed by
water as far as possible, for the accommo-

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144 THE VILLAGE

d$tion of Mads^^meKrazauifor whom such
a mode of travelling was prescribed^ the
small vessel they had hirpd to convey
th^m up the Rhine, came to receive them
at the landing-place of the Parsonage.
All parties having previously agreed that
it would be a wise plan to depart by
night, when they might severally find so-
lace for the pain of parting in probable
sleep*

In the Station of saying "good-bye!"
Meeta could not observe any thing ; and
while she was repeatedly kissing Madame
Krazau's hand, and renewing the pro-
mise of visiting Alsace, neither heard
nor saw what passed between Adolpha
and Rupert. The first thing she did
hear, was an exclamation from the latter,
expressive of a wish that he were thought
well-enough to accompany them through
their journey; and as he spoke, he turned
a speaking look upon Aremberg, His
friend, with habitual embarrassment,
changed colour, and stood irresolute :

OF MARIENDORPT. 145

then, all at once addressing Madame
Krazau, offered, rather than intreated her
to accept his escort as a substitute for
that of Rupert*

The proposition, at first, was not re-
eeived as serious ; then as gratefully ac-
knowledged, as courteously declined :
repeated by Arembergj urged by Ru-
pert : considered more leisurely j and
finally accepted.

Meeta failed not to note, that until
Rupert enforced his friend's offer, Adol-
pha's refusal was hasty and earnest:
when he urged it, she smiled and
yidded..

The short delay which this new ar-
rangemenl occasioned, and the little bus-
tle it caused, gave a livelier impulse to
the whole party. Mr. Vanderhoven stood
at gaze for some time, dubious whether
it were not right for him to offer his at-
tendance also* But business still claimed
part of his cares ; and exhorting his ne-
phew to pay a double share of attention

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146 XH£ VILLAGE

ttflthe ladies on hi»^ account, joinied the
general wonder, that oone of them had
till now considered t^e indecorum of suf-
fering two unprotected women to pro<»
ceed through the i^eat of war, provided
only with the formulary of written pro-»
tections*

Aremberg confessed that he had
thought of such a plan, wit]}OUt having
had the courage to propose it: but to.
him who had proposed it, the full honour
of gratitude was decreed ; and Adolpha,
evidently elated by this last proof of her
cousin's increasing interest in her, could
mingle smiles how with her tears, as she
parted from his mother and himself*

Their boat, filled with provisions by the.
care of Esther, and themselves laden with
benedictions and r^rets, the ladies were
handed from the shore by Mr. Vander-.
hoven, ^ho insisted upon being perr.
mitted to perform that last duty of a
,host.

OF MARIENDORiPT. 147

Evey attentive to the health of her
protectress, Adolpha was seeri to lead
her direcrtly down into the cabin from
the night-wind j leaving Aremberg upon
the deck, where he remained, as usual,
abstracted from ordinary objects : for he
seated himself upon a coil of rope, and
ha^ng ofiC€f kissed hiis hand to those oh
sfaor^^ threw down his eyed, and n^ver
raised them dgam, while the boat renjain^
ed in sight.

As she saw him thus, Meeta could
fancy the train of reviving recollections
which employed his mind ; recollections,
mixed unavoidably with sensibility to
Adolpba's engaging sympathy. A ro-
mantic wish crossed her, as she ima«
gined his gratitude for this sympathy j
thought of Adolpha's susceptibility to
genius and goodness ; and calculated the
hours, nay, days, they must p^isai now,
nearly whdtly together.

This widi was too closely allied to her
own personal desires, to be indulged
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148 THE VILLAGE

uncensured ; and besides, Rupert's man-
ner this very night, had testified some-
thing strangely like a change in Adolpha's
favour : and if such change had taken
place, ought she not to hail it with
pleasure?

Meeta turned from the water's edge,
as she enquired this, expecting to behold
Rupert lingering there, for a last glimpse
of the departing vessel j but she saw
only her father, his white locks lifted by
the night-wind, and a shade of sincere
regret resting upon his mild brow.

« Your Head uncovered, dearest fa-
ther," she exclaimed, with a tenderly
chiding voice, *^ and the damps rising !*'

Muhldenau turned back to the sum-
mer-room for his hat. " We may be
allowed to forget hats and head-aches,
my child, when we are parting with
friends whom we may never see again.
Poor Madame Kra^q does not seem long
for. this world!— that fine young crea-
ture will be left without a protector!

OF MAEIBKDORPT. 149

I confess I had hoped that she might have
found one, in our invaluable Rupert:
but that is not to be : he seems to have
no thought of the kind ; and she appears
inclined to prefer his graver friend/'

Had a tl^underbolt fallen at the feet of
Meeta, she could not have been more
amazed; had the heavens opened be*
fore her, she could not have felt such
transport.

" Prefer his friend !'\ she repeated,
stopping, and fixirig her actually-radiat-
ing eyes upon his placid countenance.
— «< What 1 prefer Mr. Aremberg to the
i!on of Madame Roselheim !*'

Muhldenau smiled. ** Yes, my child !
Dost thoanot think the serious graces
may prove as charming as the gayer
ones ? And dost thou not think that the
man who was the chosen of Eustatia
Vanderhoven, may well merit the af-
fections of any other woman ?** '

" Yes — certainly — yes : but the pos-
sibility of such a thing, — never" — she
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150 THE VILLAGE

stopty then resiimingwith sudden energy
^ — " O no, my dear father, I am ^ure"

} — again she broke oSp confused at the

precipitancy with which she was abput
to betray a secret ; not confided^ indeed,
but equally sacred in the opinion of
delicacy.

It must be remembered that Muhl-
denau had never been made acquainted
with the settled conviction of Colonel
Boselheim that Adolpha preferred his
nephew, nor yet mtix the hopes and fears
of Madame Rpselheim on the saoie sub- ^
ject ; these had been imparted to Meeta,
solely from one powerful motive, and
Meeta herself, was not likely to repeat
them, unauthorized; even to her parent.
Thus Muhldenau, looking on wll^t was
passing bi^fore him, without foregone
prepossessipn^ and having his disqepmient
sharpened by parental wi^es fot his
daughter's happy e'stablisbm^ent in Ufe,
was not unlikely to see things as they
really were. Any one who had passed

V ^-

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OF MARIENDORPT. 151

t»ly a few days m the, ^ciety 6f Adolpha
at Mariendorpt, must have discovered
that her affections were fixed somewhere ;
they might differ about the object ; and
that, just as another person's represent-^
ation migHt have swayed them, or their
own x>bservations determined: but they
must always have agreed upon the main
point.

Accustomed to hear her father as she
would have listened to an oracle, Meeta
submissively attended to his remarks upon
several little circutq^tances c^ evident
emotion in Adolpha, when both the per-
s<ms in question were present, and which'
. might as properly be placed to Arem-
berg's account as to that of his more ob«'
viouj^charnung friend. She ventured,
however, to state Adolpha's frequently-
avo\^^ belief that the mourner's heart
was. wedded to the grave ci Eustatia ;
and to notice her extreme awe of his
character;

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158 THE VILLAGE

These argutnetits,. Muhldenau's ex-
perienced mind received as supports for
his own opinion. " Love is full of con-
tradictions, my child ;" he said pensively,
the vision of his youth passing at that
moment before him, <<its hopes and de-
spairs hav^ little of reason in them« If
Mr. Aremberg'^ devotidn to a lost object,
had been a matter of personal indiffer-
ence to this young lady, she, who is bet-
ter acquainted with life than my simple,
romantic Meeta, would never have be-
lieved in it."

Muhldenau then added some striking
observations upon the particular atten-
tion Adolpha had from the first bestowed
upon Mr. Vanderhbven ; a person of all
others, perhaps the least likely t(yp^ase
an exceedingly polished woman, un-
less she were peculiarly interfested in
him, from the influence of a sentiment,
which causes the heart to embrace every
thing with fondness, that belongs to the
object of its partiality.

OF MARIfiNDOftFr. 153

Meeta listened with growing faith in
what she heard ; and venturing not to raise
her eyes to her father^s face, lest they
should disclose the strange joy of her
feelings, timidly asked, what Mr. Arem-
berg felt for Adolpha ?

" I am not a seer, my Meeta ;" he
replied, smiling at her artlessness, ** yet
it seems to me, that our friend does not
know his own heart just now ; and would
rather not know it. The besetting sin
of the best hearts, my child, is per-
haps ^d^ of constancy : the martyrdom
of one's whole life, for the sake of a dear
and lost object, has its glory, — and its
sweetness too," he added, with a pro-
found sigh ; << and there are circum-
stances ji||iich sanctify such martyrdom, I
hope;—* years of union — of blessings
bestowed, — • of sacrifices made for us by
the angel of whom we are bereaved j —
but I wander from our subject, Meeta.**
Muhldenau had unawares glided from a
review of another's feelings, into a vin-
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154 Tip yj^jpAGE

%

idication of his own y and he found it ne-
cessary to pause awhile, ere he could re^-
sume in;acheerfuller accent.

" I have noticed unusual disturbance
in our friend's looks and manner all this
day; and he certainly appeared so ex-
tremely moved and embarrassed, when
the proposal was made for his accom-
panying the ladies^ that I hope one of
them is of much more consequence
to him, than he clearly perceives : she
could not trust hpr happiness in better
handsr s

" Impossible!" said Meeta energeti-
cally, yet aU, bewildered between doubt
and delight

" I may tell thee, now, my child,*'
said her father, stopping in his \^alk, and
taking he^ hstnd seriously within his,
** that I h^^ wished thtf happiness so
placed : -<-r Mn Vianderhoven's generous
purpose ha9 of late been so evident to
me^ th^J:^ I could not but wish the same
thing. There would have l>een affluence

OF MAl^lriDaFT. 155

for tbee» high character, talent, fixed
prindpley excelling goodness, and all
bounteously^ fireely oifered ; without one
allojing feeling, on that sMe where some
pride of wealth and patronage might be
expected and pardoned — but Heaven
has seen fit to order it otherwise ! Mr. ^
Aiiemberg's afiections lean to a different
deject ; ind thrice-blessed be God for it !
I have noted thee, my child, in Mr. Arem*
berg's company; and that^which used t#'
cause me a little r^ret then, is now my
comfort.**

At the last sentence Mwta tremUed
with ^undefiaable apprehoBion; then
flinging herself upon: her indulgent pa-
rent's neck, she exclaitiiie<^, '* O my dear
father, never wish so for me again! — ^^I
ask but to live and die in my dear
home : — ^never wish* your poor Meeta to
leave you."

«• Bui since I must leavie thee, my
childj" he said, id a lower voice, «^ let
me hope, tliat I may see thee placed with
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*156 THE VILLAGE

honour and comfort in a home of thine
own, ere I go to my home, the resting-
place of thy mother! — When I die,

Meeta, knowest thou not, that ** he

could not finish the picture of desolate
forlornness, which he contemplated for
his orphan daughter*

Deeply affected by the image of his
death, and struck with the dread that he
was about to propose some new candi-
date for her hand, Meeta stood for a
space, silent and trembiirig ; at length
she said in a hesitating, hopeless voice,
" Is there then any other person, that I
am so unfortunate — ^^I mean, that I
please sufficiently, to /^

Muhldenau understood her inter-
rupted meaning, and hastened to say
that there was not one amongst the
remaining few of their immediate inti-
macy, to whom he would wish to see
her joined in so sacred a relation as that
of marriage. He spoke not of Rupert ;
because he was so accustomed to consi-

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OF HAAIENDORPT. 137

der bifli in the light of an actual brother
to Meeta, that he never thought of
forming a wish upon the subject.

Meeta was by this time weeping vio-
lently : her tears flowed from many
sources^ -— grief and gladness^ love for
her father, and abhorrence oi herself.
She felt as if guilty of a sin in sufiering
him to believe her what she was not, —
free in heart j yet how was she to own
the humiliating secret? How was she to
bear the pain of so afflicting him? Shame
and filial aSection alike chained her
tongue } and while contemplating the
sadjmage he had before conjured up,
she felt that no other deprivation or dis-
appointment, could deserve the name of
a calamity.

But no other heavy calamity menaced
her now ; and had she searched her
soul thoroughly, she might have found
that the belief of not having a rival in
Adolpha, the sillipicion of being secretly
dear to Rupert, the certarifety therefore

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158 TH£ VILLAGE

of not being called upon to support the
anguish of seeing him the husband of
another^^were the true causes of her pre-
sent indifference to such imagined trials.
Muhldenau chid himself for having
thrown this gloom over their discourse ;
recalled the many unexpected mercies
he had received at the hand of Provi*
dcmce^ counted up the number of tried
friends to whose kindness he could c6n«
^dently bequeath his dai^hter's interests,
and concluded by a few playful predic*
tions about his own prolonged age, and
the reverence he would then exact from
his grand^children.

Meeta's loving and lovely eyes shone
with rainbow-brightness through their
dispersing tears; and still hanging upon
his shoulder, while his arm encircled
her slender waist, t^e proceeded in si«-
lence, but with raving dieerfulness,
towards the house*

Her thoughts^ meanwhile^ returned to
the subject which had produced all this
4

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OF MARIENDORPT. 159

emotiQO^ — 'the asserted attacbtn^nt be*
tween Aremh^g and Adolpba : as she
reflected upon It, she was astonished to
find that most of her own recoJilectionsi
now that a new clue was givep her^
tended to strengthen her father's ob-
servations. She remembered the^ mer
lancholy pleasure with which Adolpha
used to invite from her, frequent detjails
of the buried Eustatia; and of Arem?
berg's past life: she reflected that no
common interest in the latter, could have
induced Adolpha to undertake the task
of copying the picture even for Meeta ;
and perhaps her wish to resemble that
picture^ might be leas, because Ru-
pert admired it, than because it repre*
suited the sort of countenance most
pleasing to Arembeig.

Meeta did not ask, from what sprung
this &vQured heiress's evident anxiety to
advance the. fortune of Rupert? The
reason for such anxiety might be found
in the pure feeling of gratitude for his

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160 • THE VIlLAOE

mother's generous succour of her family
in their days of distress; added to her
own obligation for the preservation of
herself and Madame Krazau, from a
fearful death.

Meeta could not forget that Adolpha,
who rather owed her life to Aremberg than
to Rupert, had more than once described
his share in the awful scene upon the
tower of the Ockholmer church, and his
riveting, pious eloquence during the sa-
cred ceremony which she had witnessed
previously in the church itself, with re^
markable sensibility. His display of
Christian heroism, in the first instance,
might well have stamped on a heart even
less susceptible to excellence, an impres-
sion which not even the finer graces, and
equal worth of his younger companion^
could efface. The pity afterwards de-
manded by Aremberg's sad story, told
by the partial tongue of friendship, was
likely enough to join deep interest with
enthusiastic admiration. Thus according

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OF MARIENDORPT* l6l

to Meeta's newly adopted theory, had
the refined and court-bred Adolpha be-
come devoted to one, otherwise unlikely
to captivate such a person on a short
acquaintance ; one too, whom she be-
lieyed wedded to the ashes of an«
other.

Fain would Meeta, after recapitulating
these evidences, have discovered as many
indicative of the same sentiment on the
part^of Aremberg : but except the scanty
testimony of greater disturbance in his
manner of late ; his deep sensibility to
Adolpha's share in increasing the memo-
rials of her he loved and lamented ; and
lastly, his agitated, embarrassed mode of
offering a kindness which common cour-
tesy authorised ; except these testimonies
she had nothing to remember. She could
but hope, and wish, and pray, that if he
were ever to admit a sharer with Eustst-
tia's memory in his heart, that sharer
might be Adolpha.

In the midst of these reflections, Meeta

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162 TtiJC VltLASfi

•

entered the hou^e : their force and teil^
dency she felt immediately ; for as her
eyes encountered the just-lifted one of
Rupert, whatever was the expression
there, it caused her such an emotion of
joy that it was too evident she must now
guard against the dangerous idea of being
free tp love him : for whatever was left,
whatever withdrawn, her obligation to
self*conque3t remained the ^me as be*
fore ; and Rupert, unattached to.any one,
unsought by any one, — nay, Rupert even
at her own feet, was an object from which
she ought, in honour, to fly«

Thus deciding, she turned her steps
another way, and went up to Mr. Van-
derhoven, who was waiting to bid them
gOHod night ^e he returned to his deso-
late abode. The night was by this time
somewhat advanced, yet they wasted
another, hour of it in conversation about
the friends that had just left them j after
which they separated, ^ome to think, and
some to dream, of these valued persons.

OF MABIENDQRPT. 169

CHAP. V.

The family at the Parsonage easily re-
turned to their tranquil habits of con-
stant occupation and amusements, which
had been suspended by the sort of carni-
val weeks ju^t gone : they talked over
that time in their evening walks with
pleasure and r^ret, but the termination
of it did not desolate them as it did Mn
Vanderhoven. He wandered over his al-
tered house lamenting the absence of
his nephewi and the loss of that bright
and elegant being, whose refined atten*
tions had flattered his self Jove even more
than he was aware, and whose sprightly
saUies were ever rejtdy to second his own
less happy efforts at wit and gaiety.
Muhldenau, who was often the confi-

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164 THE VILLAGE

dant of these lamentations, never failed
to join in them, to praise the best quali-
ties of Adolpha, and thus to prepare
Mr. Vanderhoven for a pleasurable, ra-
ther than a painful surprise, should her
fascinations evei^ually baffle his gene-
rous intentions towards Meeta.

As some compensation for that va-
lued guest. Father Joachim now for-
sook his solitude, and claimed Mr. Van-
derhoven's participation once more with
his botanical pursuits* Julian, like a
young bird released from short thraldom,,
flew about with the innocent transport of
first happiness. It is true, that during
the period of the foreign ladies' visit, he
had walked daily in the garden with his
tutor, and received visits daily f5com his
friends at the Parsonage; but till this
time he was not permitted to go to them.
He might not pass whole hours with his arms
round Madame Roselheim's neck, while
she repeated to him the beautiful story
of Joseph and his Brethren, in the very

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OF MARIENDORPT. l65

phrases of Scripture ; nor sit at her feet
arranging the sewing-silks for her and
Meeta ; nor establish himself by his bro-
ther's side, while the latter taught him
the first rudiments of drawing : all this
Julian had been debarred of lately, and
even now, whether it were not easy for
the Franciscan to rid himself of a habit,
his pupil ^ound himself still under a
species of restraint, not laid upon him
when he first arrived at Mariendorpt.

Rupert made the same observation ;
but the only remedy he sought, was that
of offering no opposition to what might
die away of itself/ if not rooted by re-
sktence : he therefore lefl the Franciscan
to recover by degrees from such an un-
gracious mood. Many days, however,
did not elapse ere the general mortifica-
tion upon this subject, and the regrets oc-
x^asioned by the departure of Adolpha
were lost in alarming anxiety of a different
kind.

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JOG THE VILLAGE

The Franciscan^ after having been
twice to receive the confession, and to
give extreme unction to a dying Ciathdlic
in a distant village, returned after the
second visit, heavy, languid, and shivfer-
ing. As the day proceeded, he com*
plained of unusual lassitude and excru*
ciating pains through his whole body;
but attributing these sensations to a pro-
bable cold, he treated himself according*
Jy. The nact'day being a fast (upon
which occasions he abstained, not merely
from food, but from society,) no one had
an opportunity of observing the progress
of his indisposition ; therefore, when Ru**
pert saw him early the ensuing morning,
he was concerned to find him infinitely
worse : drowsiness, coldness in the extre-
mities, and obvious aversion of foodi
were symptoms he failed not to remark
with much uneasiness to the sufferer him-
self. Father Joachim roused on Rupert's
i^uxious questionings, and promised, in

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OF MARIENDORPT. 167

consequence of them, to see a physician,
unless the morning might produce a-
&vourabIe change in his sensations.

Impressed with the idea that a fever
of some sort threatened his friend, Ru*
pert was not taken by surprise when a
biUet was brought to the Parsonage only
afew^bours afterwards^ praying MuhU
denau's or his attendance immediately,
and explaining the reason for such a re-
quest* Having taken alarm at his own
symptoms, and having, on private en-
quiry, through a servant, discovered that'
a child had but just died of the small-pox "^
in the house where be had last been,
Father Joachim could have no doubt but
that it was t^is fearful disorder which'
was. now appearing in himself. About
his own life or death he was piously in-
i^erenty but anxious to preserve Julian
from infection, he wrote to the minister
of Mariendorpt, stating his condition, and
praying him, if his family had severally
gone througli the disordei", to come- and

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168 THE VILLAGE

take the unconscious innocent under his
roof^ and, at the same time, find some
fitting place to Which to remove the
Franciscan himself.

Muhldenau*s first step was, to question
the different members of his little house*
hold, upon the important subject. Christy,
who had never had the small-pox, was
directly ordered out of the house for a
time ; and, though Muhldenau, from his
hurried life in former years, and his wife's
early death, knew not whether Meeta
had ever gone through it, he had accus-
tomed her and himself to put their trust
in Heaven ; neither braving actual dan-
ger, nor shrinking through iear of it from
occasions of benevolent usefulness. To
her, therefore, amongst the first, not
doubting her answer, he put the question,
whether he should, or should not, grant
the Franciscan's request?

Meeta'js cheek blanched for one in-
stant ; but the colour returned to it the
next. While with generous rashness, she

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OF MARIBNOORPT. 169

declared her eagemiess to have Julian

removed from danger at any risk.

Rupert's eyes met her's at the moment,

I and there was that, in their momentary,

beaming fixture, which overpaid her

} beforehand for all she might incur here*

i after. Rupert, however, was not inclined

I to let her take the hazard of her enthu*

I siasm : and expressing infinite dismay at

1 the uncertainty of her situation ; attribut-

( ing all the impending evils to himself; he

\ voted for her removal to soi^e ne%h*

, hour's house, until Julian's freedom from

i infection might be ascertained*

1 To this Meeta would Dot consent;

I though his mother enforced it with a pas-

I sionate pleading, foreign to her usual

Oio^ration, The sickne9s of Julian, if

be were to be sick, must, she knew, throw

^ their diminished hou^Md into confu^

J' sion ; as it must employ Madame Rosel-

I heim^day and pight, and leaVe the vener-

I able minister without a fit supwj^end-

! ant of his domestic concerns ; without,

• VOL. III. * I

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170 THE VILLAGE

indeed^ a companion for his hours of
relaxation. She urged the improbability
c^ the contagion having been already
communicated to the child, his governor
being so soon aware of the necessity of
caution ; and she promised equal caution
in the management of herself.

Her father feebly contended on her
side for a while ; for the father was too
strong in his heart, for his resistance to
be continued : he yielded gladly to the
middle course suggested by Madane
Roselhielb} and Meeta wai^, therefore!
sentenced to a sort of banishment from
that dear friend and her nursling, until
the presence or absence of the disorder
in him could be certified.

Trembling with almost a mother's ap-
prehensions for the Uttle creature, Ma<»
dame ^Roselheim would now haive gone
immediately to bring him from the scene
of alarm; but Rupert recalled, her to
a sense of the propriety of different
conduct. If Julian's escape from that

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OF MAail$¥I>ORPT. I?!

cruel malady were to be ^hoped* those
who attendi^d upon him must .refrain
entirely from. the decidediy-^iii&^ted room
of hisi goyemon ^ ^

"So thsyt^ — hut it is a cruel sentence
I am going to. pronounce 1" he, said^
gently, withdrawing her arm frc»n his;,
««j8a that you must allow. me to banish
myself &om aU hei^,. as long, as our pQW
fri^d j;e§uke$ a nurse^ You .and Meeta
will take care of our darling. Youro^e^
dear.Sip*'' he added, s^ing Muhldenau
about to ofier his services in Father
J«acbinj'» chamber, " is to pray for us
m^iinwhile. Hemember that.you belong
to jrimr flocfc"

. The n^inister bowed his meek head»;
and sighed. *vAnd you go, my son, to
etiUdbjisb/ yourself by the »^ck bed of Fa*
tber .Joachim !*' exclaimed his mother,
turning d^ly pale. '' Gracious Heay«^nl
if; it -^ndid pot prove the $m^Up«i ! -^
ifit/m>uld be. one of those m^gM^/

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172 THE VILLAGE

" And what then, my mother !*' asked
Rupert, cheerfully, with an expression of
countenance which made his soul visible
to the eyes of Meeta : " duty, dear mo-
ther, duty is the watch- word you yourself
have taught me. Would you have me
disgrace your own lessons ! Come, smile»
dearest mother : in camp, we all take our
turn in the hoBpitals, and many a line of
fever-beds have I passed through; and yet,
here I am/*

There never was much of the heroic
in Rupert's choice of phrases, but the
sentiment often appeared in what he said :
he always thought less of showing him-
self, than of satisfying others; and literally
believed, that there was no merit, nor mar-
vel, in a man doing his duty*

Touched by this simplicity . of good-
ness, Madame Roselheim looked on her
son till her eyes overflowed ; she did not
speak, but she waved her hand for him
to go, and she turned her head towards
Meeta. The smile that beamed through

«^'

OF MARIENDORPT. . 173

the tears of that speaking face, seemed
to ask Meeta's admiration of her excel-
lent son ; asking admiration of her who
aditiired hiin only too intensely !

Ah; poor Meeta ! how easily wast thou
to be vanquished by the least ray of
hope ! Repressed love rushed -over her
anew, with torrent force, while she re-
membered her father's predictions con-
cerning Adolpha and Aremberg, and
fancied this look from Rupert's mother
sprung from a similar conviction^ and
gave her leave to love him*

Madame Roselheim, the moment she
saw the kindling look of her companion,
felt her own indiscretion; she felt too
that to live with Jlupert, and not to love
him, was impossible; and, while she
pitied, therefore, more deeply than ever,
she who did so thus unwisely, she tried
to hide the additional tenderness which
this pity excited in her towards ite
object.

A few moments' consultation after
I 3

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17* ^ THB VIHiAOE

this, decided that Muhldenau was to pro^
ceed with Rupert to Mr. Vanderhoven's,
for the purpose of communicating the
disagreeable information to that gentle-
man, learning his opinion about the
removal of his guest, and then providing
foi it. They then hurried away, leaving
Madame Roselheim and Meeta, to en*
gage directly in preparation for Julian's
reception.

On reaching the infected house, Ru-
pert ascended at once to the Francis-
can's apartment^ while Muhldenau went
in to Mr. Vanderhoven, as ha^ been pre-
viously arranged. The latter gentleman
was struck with dismay, when he heard
what was likely to occun He had suf-
fered much from that frightful disease in
early youth, and had often been heard to
say, since then, that if it were to be
cau^t again, be should certainly take
it, were he ever placed in contact with
a person labouring under its horrors.

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OF MAUJSNDOltFT. 17^

He now beswgbt indulgence for the nn^
wojtby cowardice he must plead guilty to^
and professed bis intention of immediately
leaving his .cotintry-house, for the om
of business which he had in Utrecht;
whepce he woijjd dispatch a celebrated
physician to the succour of his unfortu*
pate guest, whom he desired might oq
no account* be disturbed or removed.

The worthy man would not listen to
^ny of those apologies and expression$ of
deep obligation from Rupert, witU which
Muhldenau was charged on this distress-
ing occasion: he exonerated him from
all blame, however remote —- said it was
one of those unforeseen calamities which
Providence dispensed at will; only re-
gretted the absence of his nephew at
such a time, and renewed his avowal of
shame at his own incapacity to fblfil
all the duties of hospitality, by remain-
ing with his sick guest*

His house and all it contained^ with
I 4

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176 THE VILLAGE

th^ exception of such of his domestics
asf were afraid of the disorder, he left at
the disposal of Father Joachim's imrne*
diate attendants. Such kind heartedness
might well overbalance the infirmity of
his spirit respecting his personal safety i
and the considerate Muhldenau, sooth*
ing his self-censure, therefore, urged him
to expedite his departure that v^ry
night.

Leaving him to this needful business^
the go»d minister then hastened to com-
municate such parts of their convers-
ation to Father Joachim^ as might tend
to set his mind at ease, and reconcile
him to remain where he was.

He found the Franciscan lying along
his bed» though not undressed } Rupert
seated at the foot «of it : Jtilian, silent,
and wondering, was standing by an
opened window at the remote end of
the long apartment, evidently in obedi-
ence to his governor's orders,*— a me-

fevGooQle

OF MARI9N00RPT. 177

landioly silence reign^ airiongst them.
Muhldenau, in obedience to the anxious
invalid^ executed his commission at too
great a distance irom the bed, to receive
any of the polluted air upon his gar*
ments. Father Joachim listened atten-
tively, noticing some passages of the
benevolent address, by signs; dot words*
When Muhldenau concluded^ he said^
after a short lamentation over the per*
plexity and inconvenience he was cau»ng
to persons upon whom he had no claim,
<< and now, worthy Sir, I know no better
way of thanking you and our excellent
host, §aft all your kindness to strangers
and prisoners, than by assuring you, that
I pray for you both, always and earnestly.
As the strongest proof <^ my es^m, I
now cominit that child into your hands ;
not doubting that you will hold the de-
posit saered^ I am about to ej^ter upon
an awful disease —it may lead me unto
death : act so, thei*eforei with regard to

V

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I

178 THE VILIAGH

tliat child, that whether you and I meet
agaift before earthly witnesses, of at the
judgment seat of God, you may be able
to meet me with a conscience void of
t)>fifence towards him.** " This good Sa*
maritan,** he added, laying his hand
lipon Rlipeilf s, — ^ he wouW not call
him Chrifetkn, — « this good Samaritaii
believeis it his duty to attend on me
during my illnfess. Jesus forbid tbait 1
Should priz6 his body more than his
soul f^— he will advaneie a step nearer
heaven by it, — and,' perfiapB~/^A
hectic coldiir crossed ' the Franciscan's
cheek as he interrupted ' Himsdif dis*
closing his secret thought, atid his fear
that it might 'be guessed at* It wa? evi-
dent that he looked for Rupert^s rteoii-
version by the circumstances of his sick-
bed; arid hoped 'much from old as-
sociation^ when he should unavoidably
hear the objieefs of his early faith, in^
voked by a dyihg manw Father Joachirb

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OF llAEiSN3>CXIIPT. 179

speedily recovered from thift temporary
confusion, and resumed; -^

^^ Julian wiU therefore be deprived.of
his care Its well as mine* Should in-
fection be already communicated •i^yotr
miderstand me,' Sir! — f<>r the love of
our blessed Virgin, •— pardon me, •-—for
the love of God, be uijto him •— •• I i'ely
on you and that excellent tnatfon/* —

The Franciscan pftused, to pdrevent bis,
affliction of mind ^from being too appa*
rent: but while be did so^ his eyes,
which were already ^beginning to inflame
with the firQ of his complaint, cast inany
a troubled glance te\;?ards Julianf.

Muhldeaau hastened to give evety pos-
sible assurance of afiection for 'hts little
charge, and df-obeiUence to the Fifanbis-
can's imtvtiH^nBy he pledged himself as
a Christian and^a M^er, to a conscien-
tious fulfilment of llie obligatioii tbtis im^
posed upon him J and commending his
Catholic brother to the healing powii: of
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180 . THE VlUJ^m^

the only unfiuling Pbyatcian, advanced
to claim his trust

Among the few things said by the good
minister to induce, the child to depart
quietly with himt Julian seemed only to
hear that his governor wished it His
affecttonate heart had not room for the
offered images of pleasure and caressing
in the persons of Meeta and Madame
Roselheim J he thought only of his go-
vernorvsicky and Rupert sad, and prayed
80 eaiitisS% to be suffered to stay and
keep them company, promising, so lov-
ingily, neither to stir nor speak unless
told to ,do so, that it was evident the
Ftiowscan's tenderest feelings were sore

But 9<Hnetliing of seserve or pride still
enabled the latter to command himself;
dSid pronouncing a short eadiortation to
the attentive little creatnreti he bade him
farewell*

The docile child, accustomed to obey,

4

OF MARIENIKmpT. 181

though pale and ready to weep^ was
running forward to^embrace his gover-
nor, when Muhldenau's extended arm^
and the former's authoritative voice, at
the same instant arrested him\ mid-
way, ey, .->

There was something thrilling in the
tone with which the sick man called
upon Julian to stop. At this sad and
awful momentf when they might be part-
ing never more to meet, love gave him
courage to bear the pain of seeming
cruel to the object of its fondest care.
The poor child stood for an instant with
chedcs flushing, and heart labouring;
then all at once bursting into a passion
of tears, and running back to Muhl. ^
denau, he threw himself into that good v^
man's arms. ,

Rupert now spdce, chedcii^ his first
impulse of Jbastening up to the little
weeper, and having soothingly repeated
the reasons for their seeming unldndness

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IB% TliS VILLA0B

to the cMld they all loved so tenderly,
succeeded in restoring his Composure.

Julian ceased to sob, and sliding down
from Muhldenau's breast to the ground,
clasped his little hands together, and re-
. pes^d on his knees the first prayer his
young heart had ever formed of itself.
He uttered only a few of the simplest
phraser of petition j but their very sim-
plicity rendered them affecting, and he
for \i\^hom that artless prayer was offered
tip, could no longer prevent the tears
from rolling down his cheeks, and could
with difficulty restrain himself from call-
ing him to his last embrace and blessing.

Wholly oviercome, his voice broken,
every mascle of his face working, he
once more bade the weeping boy fare*
well, exhorted him afresh to obedience,
and the practices o^ their rdi^on ; and
repeating that it was from kiMness, not
harshness, he forbore to add kisses to his
parting benediction, he motioned him
mournfully away.

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of DARlENDOhPT. 189

Hushed into silence by habitual rever-
ence for his governor, the little Julian
suffered himself to be carried from the
room without further resistance j but the
moment the dqor was closed on him and
Muhldenau, his complaining voice was
heard like the bleat of a kmb taken
frorti its mother, till the sound becoming
fainter and JTainteras he was borne along
the passage, it finally ceased, or was
audible no longer.

The Franclscian^s hollow eyes re*
mained long fixed upon the door through
which Julian had gone : when he with-
drew them, which he did witji a j^ro-
longed sigh, they were sadder than be-
fore, though now tearless. He did not
speak; but he crossed himself several
times, and was for many minutes evi-
dently occupied in prayer,

Rupert felt that the sick man believed
he had taken his last look of the gentle
child; and, penetrated with sympathy,

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184 THB VILLAGE

as well as occupied by many an anxious
thought, he too remained silent.

In the space of another hour, Mr.
Vanderhoven and some of his household
were heard to go away in his barge for
Utrecht; Rupert then administered a
medicinCf and mixed a cooling drink for
his patient, by the latter'^ directims;
and having seen him peaceably disposed
for the rest of the night, at his urgent
intreaty threw himself down upon a
mattrass in an outer chamber.

t X

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OF MAEIENDOBPT* 185

CHAP. VI.

The Franciscan's opinion of his own
state proved accurate : on the fifth day
from his first indisposition, certain spots
appeared upon his skin, confirming the
fact of his having taken the smalLpox ;
and that of a malignant sort.

Rupert beheld those fearful witnesses,
and heard the decision of the Utrecht
physician with a sensation at heart be-
yond all he had ever felt ; in truth, it was
unlike all he had ever felt ; for it was
horror mixed with pangs of conscientious
misgiving.

In the first perturbatic^ of his spirttt
he was ready to tax himself with the
guilt of being accessary to the Francis-^
can's residence in a country where it

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186 TH£ YILLAGS

was probable he had taken his death :
but as he reflected upon the' subject,
juster thoughts arose^i and he acknow-
ledged that as no other motives had in-
fluenced him, except kindness and con-
sideration for his prisoners in the choice
of their abode ; nay, as he had declared
the Franciscan free, he migljit lament the
consequences as a misfortune, but not
repent them as a crime.

His anxiety, lest Julian had not
escaped infection from contact with his
governor's clothes, or approach to his
breath, was as agitating as that of Father
Joachim himself ; whose repeated en-
quiries respecting the health of the child,
he was however happily qualified to
answer satisfactorily, from daily reports
made by the inmates of the Parsonage.

Entrance to the house itself had been
interdicted from the first ; so that it was
only for a few moments, at different
periods of the day, he could exchange
enquiries with his mother, or Meeta, or

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OF MAECENIMJpT. 187

the venerable minister, below his Win-
dow. Except the occasional sight of Dr.
Ostermann, who now lived in»the house,,
but with whom he had no other inter-
course than during the latter's visits to
the invalid, Rupert associated with no
one. He devoted himself to the sick
room day and night, with a feeh'ng of
duty which no prediction about his own
health could shake j even Meeta's deeply-
anxious look, as from beneath his opened
window she gazed up at his pale and
languid face, could not beseech him into
less self-devotion.

Yet, though this pain was mixed with
them, sweet were these moments to Meeta j
for the sight of her, still untouched by
the malady he dreaded, caused Rupert
such joy, and the continuance of that
dread excited such tenderness in him,
Ihat every time he saw her, a softer and
more familiar fondness of look and lan-
guage, established itself between them.
Even the ordinary phrase at parting, of

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188 THE Village

*« God bless you,'* uttered by each, aa
the one retired from, and the other
closed thm window, thrilled both their
hearts with , the same consciousness: but
they could ndt dwell on that conscious*
ness ; perhaps they durst not ; lest such
reflection should lead to the sacrifice of
what formed now, the principal part of
their scanty happiness.

Madame Roselheim, who was never
present at their brief meetings, and whose
heart was divided between anxiety for
Julian, and apprehension about her son,
had no suspicion of the rapid progress
which a hitherto-latent feeling was mak*
ing in his breast. She left her little
charge at the Parsonage every morning
for a few moments, that she might behold
Rupert's face, exhort him to take care of
himself, and, recommend him to the pro-
tection of Heaven. Her tender accents
were his soul's music ; they calmed all his
agitations, they could at any time banish
every image, except her own, from hia

jGopQie

OF MARIEl^DORPT. 189

heart, and make him forget the lover in
the son.

But neither she nor Meeta were long
destined to cheer his forlori^^u^tion with
their looks and words. SAe billets, un-
known to Rupert, passed between the Par-
sonage and Dr. Ostermann on the subject
of Julian, in Whom certain symptoms of
listlessness and chilliness began to appear,
and panic-strike his friends. Other sure
tokens succeeding, the physician no Ion#
ger hesitated in pronouncing the child
infected with the complaint j conse-
quenUy declared, that all precautions for
keeping the inmates of the two houses
separate were superfluous; and that he
might visit the several sick chambers
withoirt injury to either of his patients.
At this isecond shock, though comipu-
nicated kindly by the doctor himself in
the anti-room of the Franciscan's apart-
ment, Rupert was completely dismayed ;
a throng of afflicting consequences
rushed on him at once. Julian's death -^

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190 THE VILLAGE

the woeful account he must render up to
his &ther— he sat down for a while
^ite speechless.

During that brief interval^ other ago<»
nmng thou^ts intruded, and uncer-
tainty concerning Meeta brought with it
new images of death and domestic deso«
latioQ*

These racking thoughts were followed
by an instant apostrophe to heaven : it
was said aloud and unawares ; but
quickly recollecting himiself, and red-
dening at his own abstraction, he con-
sulted with Dr. Ostermann upon the
propriety of withhdding this new cala-
mity from the knowledge of tfabir inn
valid*

It was soon decided between them
that deceit was sometimes sanctified by
the motive. > Increased fear, produced by
increased agitation, might cost, the sick
person's life } and Rnpert Wastfaerefb^ei
instracM to keep the whole a&it
secret.

•»!'*

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OF MABIENDORPT. 191 '

Luckily for the fate of this secret, his
coiintenance could no longer, be exa-
mined by the eyes of Father Ji||ichim :
those keenly-penetrating eyes were now
completely sealed by the disorder ; and
his attendant's only care was how to
steady his voice, and mould his sen-
tences, when he should reply to the
earnest and embarrassing questions of
Julian's governor.

Such questions were the sole remain-
ing proofs of the Franciscan's interest in
th^ affairs of this world. Aware of his
situation, and hourly feeling the powers
of life exhausting by the various evils of
his direful malady, he employed his inter-
vals of ease and unclouded re&son in pre-
parations for another state. ;

Rupert was at length told that the
recovery of his po6r friend was no longer . 1

to be expected; and with feelings of f

unutterable concern, mixed with bitter |

regret at his own remote share in the i

melancholy catastrophe, he devoted his

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192 THE VILLAGE

principal care to the spiritual comfort of
tfae dying man. By his requests the
Catholiji priestt whose ministry he had
himself attended in former days, was
induced to come often to Mariendorpt,
though the way was long, and the
weather oppressive. The weather was,
indeed, nearly insupportable ; at least in
a sick chambier, ^m whi^, according to
the baneful practice of those times on
such <)ccasious, all outward air was ex-
cluded, the fervour of Midsummer ihjs
and nights was almost like thjit of t^e
Sirocco wind.

Yet without doof% shade and pure ai>
were attainable to those who might
seek them ; although the cbudless sun,
.shining in a clear blue sky, a garden
red with roses, and 3uccessions of spor-
tive swallow^ skimming over the canal
i[)elow, w^e but mockeries to the self-
imprisoned and much enduring Rupierti
who passed half the sultry day in fanning
fthe burning and disfigured face of the

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OP MARIENDORPT. 193,

ipv^i4ji tbipkiqg meanwhile how much
more of mental courage and true heroism
are required fpr the ordinary duties of
life, — fox thoge which are done without
show, and pass away without observation,
— than for such as the performer boasts
of, and a world applauds.

In these reveries, bis heart involun-
tarily .turned of^ener and ofteper towards
Meeta, whose perilous situation and
magnanimous tenderness, kept him in a
state of mind little favourable to the
tranquil regard with which he sought to
consider her.

It is true, that both her father and his
own mother were little, likely to let her
break through the solitfiry restraint im-
posed upon her personal freedom; but
SQ long as she was in the same house
with Julian^ his heart could not find rest.
The subtle nature and q^uick communi-
cation of the poison ^e dreaded, were
teri;ifying to imagine} and that blessed
secret was not th^n,, known, which our

VOL.ni. K

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t9i THE VILLAGE '

pitying Creator has sibce vouchsafed to
reveal } by the knowledge of which mil*
lions have been rescued from deforoiity
and death! millions from loss and la*
mentation!

Rupert brooded over these thoughts,
without venturing now to expel them:
anxiety for Meeta's safety appeared to
him only a small atonqpient for the
danger she incurred through his means ;
and believing that less solicitude respect-
ing her would have been a crime, he
insensibly yielded himself up to the
fullest sway of a sovereign affection.

Happily for those about him, in pro-
portioQ as Father Joachim seemed to
believe hijnself nearer his «ad, his re*
liance upon their truth and benevolence
increased. He frequently pressed Ru-
pert's hand with affectioiiate emotion,
beseeching his forgiveness for past sus-
picion, and as often interrupted his
muttered devotions, by repeating, in a
penetrating tone, << I am praying for
you, my son — I am praying for you/*

/"

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OF MARI£NDORPT« 19^

Rupert could hear that these prayeri?'
solicited pardon for what the good Ca«
tholic considered his young friend's
apostacy, and besought fresh light for his
darkened soul. These prayers affected
Rupert greatly, when the somewhat-
indiscreet, and often-repeated attempts^
of the other Catholic priest to re-convert
him, by feeble argument and severe
anathema, only excited a smile.

Towards night, Father Joachim gene-
rally grew restless and uneasy ; frightful
dreams interrupted short slumbers, and
he would awake in a state of unaccount-
able terror, which was the more afflicting
to witness, when contrasted with the
ordinary self-command of their victim,
and with the just tranquillity of his con-
science.

But even in the visions of distempered
fancy, the child of his love seemed
uppermost ; and he would call put as if
he saw that helpless innocent torn from
him or Rupert, and then would awake

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I9(y THE VIL^GE

with the seiznre so strong upon Wai> that
it was long ere Rupert could cOnvini»'
him that those images were tlnreal. '

Convinced only by being thoroughly,
j|wakenedl, and patieH% ang(wered, Father
Joachim gradually calmed, and fell
evidently into deep thought about his
own situation and its probable cofise*
quences. He would then commence a
conversation with Eupert, respecting the^
letter's proceedings towards Julian ahd
the Count of Rhinegxavestein when h&
should be no longer in life ; in the midst
of which he would wander again, and
all coherency disappear in his thoughte
and language. Then he would sink into
stillness anew, only breaking it by inter-
vals with this murmured exclamation^
" No more ! — no more !"

These words of sorrow or delisium,
uttered in the silence dnd gloom ol*
midnight, in a siok chamber, fioundc^l
like prophecy to the ear of Rupert : hiai
heart echoed them ; for he fancied they
H

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Ot MARlENIXOltPT. 197

mrose from the FrandsiJan'S belief ftiat
be should never bebo^Id his little pupfi
agdpi J and he often shuddered to think
how, soon be might have to pass from
the death-scene of the present sufierer,
to that of Julian himself.

As he thought thus, tears would steal
down his cheeks, while he sat contem-
^platii^ the fearfully-altered face of him
he watched, with an oppression of soiil
for which his former life had no parallel.

* Dr. Ostermann's vi«it to the Parsonage
bad confirmed the apprehension of its
lieatt^struck iiamates, and Julian was at
this moment also stretched upon.tfte bed
^ suflferiog and of danger.

Rupert, who no lein^r left his patient's

bed-side for nightly rest, could only pray

•for those fofr whom be grieved; and

-alternatdy apostrophizing the Father of

*aH, in their behalf, and ministering to

the wants and wandering imaginations of

the Franciscan, he wore ottt the dismal

watches of several nights.

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198

THE VILLAGE

On one of the mornings after these
oightSy Dr. Ostermann, promising to re-
main with his patient, persuaded Rupert
to go down into Mr. Vanderhoven's plea-
sure-ground for the refreshment of a few
moments: he yielded, when he learat
that he should find the minister of Ma-
riendorpt there.

The venerable man eictended his hand
to him in expressive silence ; but Bupert
immediately asked after Julian, and all
the other inhabitants of the Parsonage.

Muhldenau returned the best answer
he could frame with truth ^ adding, << An
awfii|(»hand is upon us just now, my son !
thy admirable, all-enduring mother !*-r
but she will have her reward." Tears
glistened in the good man's eyes as he
proceeded to relate in what manner
Madame Roselheim had judiciously en*
deavoured to avert the threatened evil,
when no one else suspected the existence
of it in Julian's system ; and with what
intuitive facility the suggestions of her

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Ot HABIENDOBPT. ISO

own good sense ar experience had anti-
.cipated the regular practice of the phy*
sician. . , .,

"Thus, whatever were to be the eventt^*
Muhldenau said, " every one interested
in that sweet boy would be satisfied that
nothing had been left undone/' This
certainty would prove a consolation
under the severest infliction; and I^e
called Rupert's attention to it in lan-
guage suited to his sacred character*

But Rupert, who had hitherto never

known acgmpletdy despondent feeling for

himself }— Rupert^ whose sunny tender

usually brightened every subject h% look*

ad on, however gloomy;— was nowwholly

vanquished by his many causes for ap-

prehension^ and by the number of valued

objects for whom he had to fear* As he

turned hia eyes upon the compasiuonate

. countenance of his comforter, and

thought how soon he might be rendered

childless ; — *as he imagined Meeta tom

from life in the fulness of filial excel.

K 4

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200 THfi VILLAGE

k^e, or dc^afcfed in the perffectioh 6f
youthful beautyj be cbuld hot restrain
the reading sigh which burst from his
heart.

Muhldenati beard this sigh, and com-
prehending s^me of its general import
from the look whitb was fixed upon bim-
sdif, he entered at once upon the subject
o€ his daughter's perilous situation, and
that of his own degree of alarm.

He observed, that as was evident in
the case of Julian^ who must havfe im-
bibed fronn his governor 4he poison of
the matetdy they dfeaded, alf^ost as doon
as the latter had taken it himself, he
jct>uld not believe himself juistified in
sending a similar scourge into another
&mily by the removal of his daught^-.
«« She must trust in Heaven,** he said>
'* and abide where she was; and all that
her taxmbled flriends could now do for
her, consistent with their obligation to
ethers^, would be to continue excluding
her from Julian's chamber^ and proceed

OF MARISNDORPT^ «01

in keeping out of lifer wsiy vhatewr
article of apparel or futmtme had been
«ised or worn in the ififtdted room/V

He tssured hini diat Meeta was already
under a regimen recommended iipon
«iaich doobtinfl occasions; and that both
he and she felt that 49he was in the hoods
of a good and gracious God, who would
not lay more upon bis creatures than
tfaey could bear^ or that their soul's state
irequired.

^« Y«t, if it should please him/^ be con-
eluded, and would have said more, had
not the image bi^ pilous meekness ctm-
templated^ been too afflicting foi? a fktlier's
- hea/rt to dwell on; and hiding his qmver-
ing features by the action that was ne-
cessary to brush away the sndden tear^
b^ turned half aside.

If Rupert's face reflected the pangs of
his soni at that moment, and if Muhl-
denaa saw it, he could tio longer be
ignorant of the nature of the sentiment
the former felt for Meeta j but his face
' K 5

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^902 THE VILLAGE

was turned another way, and Rupert did
not trust himself with speech*

A tender biUet £rom his mother be
answered by a verbal message, doubting

1 still whether a greater portion of conta-
gion might not be communicated by ex«

' changes of letters* Having at length
found courage to exhort his venerable
friend not to tempt Providence, but to
use all lawful means for Meeta's preserv-
ation, as he would save him from the
anguish of future self arraignment, he

. charged him with renewed messages of
affection to his mother, and bade him
&rewell«

Rupert's duty within doors, soon be-
came painful beyond all former 'trial3*

. As the day advanced^ the Franciscan's
worst symptoms heightened: the erup-
tion assumed a more portentous ap-
pearance ; his limbs began to swell
frightfully, as the features of his face had
previously done, and his skin seemed to
burn the hand that touched it. The

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OF MARIENDORPT* ^03

poor sufferer wandered in mind more
obviously than he had yet been heard to
do ; and at each of his hot^ quick breath-
ingSy Rupert felt like one respiring the
scorched air of a furnace* The noisome
vapours of death came in those breath-
ings, '

At these moments the gallant soldier's
blood, never chilled by the dangers of
battle, curdled with a sensation of horror:
thef solemn and thrilling certainty that
Meeta was exposed to the chances of
such a fearful death, palsied his whole
frame. There were times when he called •
her father frantic or infatuated, presump-
tuous or self*denying to a crime, for
suffering her to remain in her home ; and
every instant on the point of flying to tear
her from the &tal scene^ at any risk to
others, he felt the force of her power
over his soul, when it could thus trans-
port him into an agony of alarm, un-
known even to a doting parent

Those feelings, the total loss of all
K 6

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^^04 ' THE VILLAjp

hope for Father Joafchim, Ihe growth bf
his fears for Julian's life, besides many a
heavy thought respecting liis ihother,
would perhaps have over-mastered JRu-
pert*s fortitude, had not the return of
Br. Ostermann from his third visit to
the Parsonage, brought him unexpected
comfort.

Julian, indeed, was too, surely advanc-
' ing through the early stage of the' malig-
nant malady J but Ostermann had as-
sured himself,, and all concerned !n the
discovery, that Meeta must haw passed
through the whole of the disorder in her
infancy.

Madame Roselheim, feeling, like^her
son, their awful responsibility to the
father that might be made childless
through kindness to them and theirs, had
earnestly urged Meeta to. inspect her
own person thoroughly, and endeavour
to discover there some mark which might
relieve them from useless tears j or by the
absence of such, authorise her material

fteed by ^JULJ "l IC -"^

of 'SSAiMiJi^KiastT. Q05

frieftd in tftkitt^ thfe fibwer 6at Of Mabl-
denau's haitd, ftad BdafchiHg ^r s&iAe
n^ighh6\it irho might net fkit tp admat
Meeta into thtit hou§«k Sd^e m^^s
bad thus beeti di«[iover6d m & piart of
Meeta's sllt)ttld«^, whidht in our freer
dayft, tM) Udf4 AbigftU wt>uM p^tnH hir
YHiMi-efts U 'M^ii t^chrered^ but in tb&t

Madat«e Rbs^6im many M-^tbeots 4i»d
'entredti!^ %hd Mts&tA he^effftiofig blushes
dnd t««t^ «i^ th)$ latter eduld t«ft^ve
upon baring \ttv iv«ity ^OUkier befbte
the gr^ire and aged Dh O^ten^jifffi*

The ftififks SpedB^d werd n« i$Od^r
seen by the Abate phyKitiAtJi 1*An f^eog-
iiised H^ ^re ^ttoofe \t&% 'She had p«^d
thfbo^ '^ fi6¥y i^i^sM dttfiiig «»Me
^e^lod i^ %€t €sikhef4 ^^g^@ 'tWxn bis
fetttilyi

After >th)^ i(i<d¥i6rtttaEiioiiof^idecibtful
hopfe, M^etft ^iiid ba)y t«> i^eoeive p^t-
inissittn R* unliriiited freedom ift c&tm-

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906 THE VILLA6S

quence ; and, rising from the breast of
the maternal friend, whose arms had
eagerly enfolded her after those of MuhU
denau had pressed her again and again,
the overjoyed girl hastened to her own
apartment, there to bless God for a relief
from those apprehensions natural to
youth and health, and to thank Him for
the liberty of dedicating herself again to
tl^ mother and brother of Rupert.

When Dn Ostermann repeated this
discovery to the young roldier, sMk inat-
ter of congratulation for the escaped
person herself, he did not seethe suddai
blaze of his auditor's face, for they were
luckily conversing in the dark, near the
door of the sick chamber. After a few
seconds, to recover the managementof his
voice, Rupert returned a tolerably com-
posed answer to this piece of information :
but aware that his late solitary habits had
led to the relaxation of better ones ; and
that he often forgot now, when he was

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/
OF MARIENDORPT^ €07

thinking aloud in the presence of wit*
nesses^ he hastened to dismiss his com-
panion*

Unspeakably grateful to Provtdenoe
for this signal mercyi and rejoicing as
truly for her father's sake as for hers and
his own, he returned to take his station
by the Franpiscan's bed, with a heart
lightened of one heavy load at least.

The Catholic priest, a man of narrow
views, and less capacity in every way
than his brother*religious, yet respectable
for good intentions, was now in the sick
chamben He had hitherto visited Father
Joachim only at distant intervals; but
now that the dis^use had assumed a de«
cidedly menacing aspect, he had r^u*
larly spent part of every night with him
in prayen

On Rupert's entrance, after his short

conference with Dr. Ostermann, the

, grateful joy of his heart upon one subject

imparted a more cheerful tone to his

voice, and thus rendered it easier £^

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.906 mr£ vALAcfi

•iiim to siwwet the FrMciseftii's ^ti^tMes
after his petpSlk

Those enquiries satisfied, the que^tkMdtr
NSb^^ his wh<^MOl tdpmjf^e^ imd^elf*
exattiittatidD%

Disease and 8«dxied$ 'were now equally
' iniiJttes of the tsm bo«fses cf Mr* Vmder-
hoten atid Muhldenai^. At the Parson-
age^ Meeta and Madame Roaelheim took
their alternate daysamd nights of nursing
Julian) while father, true to the letter
•d* bet ii^tetifperate vow, but false to its
spirit, staved in thre^erdce of h^ lady,
was itidefadgftbleteidoittg erery thing^acid
seeking ibr every thing tbdit ^ooM lesion
the fatigue of MadaiM Ko^eihefim, ^r
anticipate her wishes 'fyt fAie child's
aiccaun^

It was Esther who carried th^ fttadSt-
faourly bulletins <€ the su^mi^ Ibeftween
the two hoA^es ; £sthG^ who t^ifretwd
the e^ufitry i^ound, in seai^h of wkat#v*r
her lady fancied tnigbt lessen the pai^i
w: c&d the palate, tr {ifease the^'i^ftses

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OF iJiARlteiJDORPT. 2b&

of thi^ £^k itttiOCeift ; Esther who iiJtp^
piled ett^ absent pet*s<Mf)'d pkfi^ iti the
househddv £ut f)-ottt Jttlmn kimself,
Esther t^titt ke^ fttoof; {>reservi^g ft so-
lemn sile#i>ee, l^hen led into his ehani-
ber^^Mr in tbe e^eedfiMi of bet usual
business) ftlthough Meetst's lifted eye
often detected that 6f the proiid do-
mestic, dirfeeted wistfirlly into the tooirt,
and ;fixed with pity *ttd horror upon
th« changiiig ftce of the . young suf-
ferer.

A few days overspread that angel
£ice wjth a matsk so loathsome, tMt
Meeta y^ept incessfantfjry white regarding
it $ she i^^ept too, whenever she met the
ga^e of his glazed yet still intelligent
eye j but when that, too, sunk behind
the same ominous cloud, a chilling aWe
locked op het teat^, and seemed to
send tbetn chatiged to ice into h^r
heart.

Must ft be c(m^sed, that at first sh^
shrank frem the sight of Jufian so

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210 TH£ VILLASfi *

diaoged? The sad accompaniments of
this sore disease^ struck her senses with
horror^ and as she saw Madame Rosel-^
heim supporting the disfigured child
upon her breast^ holding his burning
hands in hers, nor refusing to his parched
lip, the kiss which his wandering and
. loving acc^its implored ; she blushed at
her own weakness, but allowed (m that
sentiment, ** stronger than death,'* which
gave Julian almost a son's rights in the
heart of her maternal firiend.

This natural shrinking, was however
quickly conquered : the increasing suffet*
ing and danger of the little creature, ba-
nished every selfish delicacy, and Meeta's
arms were soon as often his pillow as
those of the sad and soul*struck Madame
Roselheim.

Absorbed in her own afflicting pictures
of what awaited his parents, that exem-
plary woman, when not occupied in
speaking of, or acting for Julian, scarcely
held any converse with those around*

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OF MARISNDORPT# Sll

»

Her deep and firequent sighs^ the tear
that sufiused her eyes whenever Julian
moaned or wmdored^ the half-artkulate
prayer with which she followed op eyery
remedy she administered, the unspeak-
able tenderness and anguish with which
her looks and voice overflowed, — these
alone assured Meeta that in the person
of his child, Madame Roselheim heheld
her husband.

But Madame Roselheim bad another
cause for her silent grief. It was nata-
ral to such a heart, to wish that she and
her son might be rightly understood;
and without testifiers of their upright
. dealing towards Julian, a cruel suspicion
might be fixed upon them. They might
be supposed to have indulged in base
revenge for blighted happiness and ra-
vished rights, and have wreaked upon
the person of a helpless innocent, com-
mitted to their care by the will of Hea-
. ven itself, the vengeance they could not

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£12 ' THE nLLA6£

exercise over those of its culpable pd-
ventsw

By this time the Aunget of the Fran^
ciscan had become so iminifient» that
Rupert could not once avail himself of
that freedom to visit the Parsonage
which the eqtially.infected state of both
^bousaii, unhappily permitted. He no
longer stirred from his patient's bedside
even for a breath of common air ; but
Dr.Ostermann carried the details of each
trhamber to and fro; and Muhldenau,
though prohibited from appearing before
•the Franciscan, Wcause such a eircam-
stance might le&d him to guess Julmn^s
Situation, daily exchanged a benedic-
tion, and a message between Briq>ert
and his mother, below the formei^s
' window.

On the morning of the fifteenth day

^from that on which Father Joachim was first

seized, the minister of Mariendorpt went

ferth as usual to make his mournful en-

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OF ]tf ARIBNnoaFT. 2t*

quiries at Mr«Vaiiderfaoven*s: he staid
much l(Higer than »dinaiy ; and when
he retnttied, Meaia> who was bdow ga«
th^ring some aromatic plants ior the re«
freshment of Julian's chamber, saw bim
as he: entered the gardetD-wickot from the
Q^all. A .siogle glance at his stndten
countenance, sufficed to render the ques*
tipn^he^as about to ask, unneoessarj*
The herbs fell from ber hand, and she
stood before hifn unable to articulate*

Her father taking her hand, and giv«>
ing it a hasty pressure, turned towards
the sumi^r-rroom) which, he entered jr
then sitting down, and Jooking up at her,
$aid, ^^ Yes, my child ! his sufierings arq
over : ^«^we must now pray more earnestly
than ever ibr that poot child!" ♦

Meeta heard him in total silence 3
every thing within her was hushed ; and
she satfbr many minutes in that state of
thfHkd stiUness with which the young
always hear of death ; but when her
&tber apoke again, adding some touch*

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214 THE VILLAGE ^

ing passage of the good FranciscahV
last moments of consciousness, she burst
into tears, which were violent and pro-
tracted, in proportion to their* slowness
0f formation*

While she thus wept with the exces*
sive sensibility of early sorrow, over the
fate of an excellent man dying in a fo»
reign land amongst persons of a difler-
^at faith, — closing his eyes, a prisoner,
and conscious to the sad certainty of
leaving the creature he loved in the same
Ibrlora situation, bitterer tears mingled
with those of mere compassion ; and the
fear that Father Joachim's death might
{MTOve but the fijrerunner of Juh'an's,
wrung her heart to absdute convulsive*
ness. She thought of her dear Madame
Koselheira, of Rupert, of the sweet boy
himself, till the anguish of apprehension
becoming intolerable^ she threw herself;
as if sure of finding comfort there, upor
her father's neck.

Muhldenau gently reproved this ex

'5 '

tmm I ^

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OF iiARI£NDORFT. 213

cess of lamentation over the deceased
stranger: but when he gathered from
her sobbing replies wnat was the prime
source of this paroxysm, he tenderly
soothed it ; and saying something to re^^
vive hope, added much more to prepare
her for submission.

Such judicidus exhortations were gra-*
dually attended to, with more collection
of mind; and Meeta was at length suffi-
ciently composed to ask further particu-
lars of the ^Franciscan's death.

Her father briefly stated, that after
a night of torpid freedom from for-
mer bodily pain, Father Joachim had
breathed his last without a word, or
perhaps consciousness, in the arms of
Rupert. Muhldenau arrived not long
after the solemn moment j and had re* -
mained awhile, to give such necessary
orders as might spare his younger friend
a few additional feelings of a melan*'
choly nature.

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^16 .XH£ VILIfA^?

( JB^upe^ti he told ber» had inspisted upon,
s^y Wg; to see the last attentions render*
^d to the corpse of the departed^ and
then resigu his pUce entirely to the
priest, who was ej^pected by njght-fall,
tp sit up with the body, wd perfornj. ov^r
it all the rites established by their reli-
gion.

<< So a,t night, we shall have our
poor B^upert bwk again, my Meeta,"
flf^id her ^ther, nsing to lead her from
the summer*roQO^ : '* he will copie
afQongst MS with a heavy heart} we
^l^S|t try i^ot to make it heavier by pur
ljw>ks and words,'*

^<3et;aprQmised obedi^jice,.and;smiljiRg
cheerlessly, followed hini up the garden.

When Madame ^loselheim was n^ade
apquidntefl with the pielandioly .ey€;nt
that had just taken place, her first pang
lyas for the object dearest to her in life;
<1;4^4 nay dear son T* §he exclaimed,
with piercing concern ; theUi after a mo-.

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OP MAftlEKDORPT. fil7

mentary bewilderment^ gave i^igfrateful
aod tributary shower of jteaM to the*
memoiy of the Fraociscaiiv/ ^But the
death <^ a virtuous man was ^not in her
estimation the appalliog object which it
appeadred to the young and almost hi^py
Meela : she l^d too often contemplated
death for herself^ with chastened longing,
to cotisider it now as an evil to the rdeased
spirit of aQot}ier } and the griefs there*
fyce, lehich overspread her inta-esting
countenance was nearly all for the living
-^for those who were left to upbraid
themselves, unjustly, for being accessory
to the Frwciscan'si mSEmng end«

Her weU-grounded fears for Julian
were aggravated by the present blow :
jpet ere sbe hastened back to his apart-
niettt, whence she bad been summoned
by Muhldenau, she found thought and
voice for several honouring su^estions
concerning the lastservlces still remaining
to be paid, to the departed, l^er mind,
ever present to itself when the welfare^

VOL. IIIi^ IL

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218 THE VILLAGE

or honour of those she ioved was at
liazard, instantly saw the necessity for
provisions which were likely to escape'
the consideration of Rupert. She urged -
that he should lose no time in procuring
a regular statement of his patient^s case
and treatment from Dr« Ostermand, with
the due signatures properly aiithenti-*
catedj and dispatch this, by the Catholic
priest to whom Father Joachim had-
confessed himself, to the Count of Rhine-'
gravestein, requiring it to be examined
and sanctioned, or censured by that
nobleman's medical attendants. This*
might be accompanied by a verbal mes-
sage, expressive- of Rupert's anxiety,
either to have his beloved prisoner re-
moved from his care by the means c^
regular exchange ; or to have some other
person sent to Mariendorpt in the place
of Father Joachim, for the especial su-:
perintendence of Julian.

>ladame Roselheim had scarcely finish--
ed this last instruction for her son, and

OF HARIENDORPT.

219

re-entered the sick room, than she felt
how vain were such provisiotis foi: a junc-'
ture that might never arrive. Julian seemed
much worse than he had been only a
moment before ; and a succession of con-
vulsion fits soon, following this alteration^
warned those about him, to prepare for a
yet sadder scene*

Dr. Ostermann was summoned ; and
Esther, who had flown with the message,
haying apprised Rupert that if he wished
to see Julian again, he must accompany
her also, he ilew from the house of death,
with a speed that seemed to indicate his
health had not suffered from his huma-
nity.

As his mother saw him for the first
'time after the lapse of a fortnight, by
Julian's bedside, his rayless eye and sunk
cheek sent as piercing a pang to her
heart, as her disturbed and fluctuating
cheek did to his; but neither of them
suffered their thoughts, or eyes, or c^res,
to be diverted from the afflicting (^jMt
L 2

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820! THE VILL40B

before them. In silent grieC they heard
and obeyed the different instructions of
the physician, while the poor struggling,
wd now exhausted child, alternately
claimed succour or support

What a sight for Kupert, on whose
sense was yet stamped the thrilling image
of a recent death, and who no longer re-
cognizeid in the blackened and swoln
features before him, those of his soft and
delicate Julian ! — That voice, too, once
so. clear and tuneful, Uke the sweet ring.*
ing of a silver bel), w^ now faint and
reedy, uttering at one moment hollow
cries, and at another dismal moans*

Such a sight, such sounds, were more
than Rupert could support; he closed
his shuddering eyes, he turned away his
head, as though by that vain movement
he could shut out the poor innocent'ai
doleful voice ; but the dear, though alter-
ed face, was still present to his mind,
and the sad sounds still pierced his heart
thfough his ear.

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OF MAEIENDOR^t. 221

Other visions passed before him. The
memorable day of Juh'an's christenings
— the strange ' accident which had on
that proud day threatened the infant's
life, — the tumultuous rejoicings of the
peasantry, and, above all, the exulting
looks of his magnificent father* And
here, now, lay that child so greeted, so
honoutied, so preserved, — - that child, the
heir of so many dignities^ dying in an
obscure village in a distant country, an
object of charity to strangers, and of
compassion to his natural enemies !

Rupert's tenderness was but the more
exated l^ Ihosd recollections; and as
they swelled within him, he pressed nearer
to Julian* Meeta marked the quivering
of his eyelids, and heard the deep breath
he drew at every sound of distress from
iiis little favourite. Her tears fell like
rain. Madame Roselheim's anxious eye
was teariess $ but there was an expression
in it, as she occasionally exchanged looks
L 3

L, /..^ V . i-js^^^opgle.

9C2 THE VILLAGE <

ivith her son, and lifted it to Heaven, that
was far beyond all ordinary testimonies of
sorrow.

Dr. Ostermann had pronounced the
present seizure of Julian a critical one;
so that every change in the little sufferer,
from pain to ease, from rest to struggle,
was fraught with importance. Ilow did
the hearts of those around hig| throb
with grateful comfort, as they marked
the gradual decrease of his convulsions ;
and saw him at last laid quietly upon his
pillow, relieved from severe pain, and
conscious to kindness! Dr. Ostermann
drew a favourable presage from tha]t
circumstance ; and imparting his hopes to
his companions, they were enabled to
endure the »vful uncertainty of the
remaining hours till midnight, when the
favourable effect of a medicine was coi%
pletely ascertained ; the pulse of hj/s pa*
tient lowered, md huj bre^ithing remjer^
freer*

a. J

OF MARI£KI>ORPT. 388

« He will live now," said the physi-
. ciati, in the calm tone of a man familiar-
i^Q^ with such scenes.

" He will live, said ye!** exclaimed
Madame Roselbeim^ in a voice that asked
the assertion to he repeated.

DnOstermana did repeat it. Madame
Roselheim heard, and then while her
whole face brightly soffiised, fell back
wiib a gasping sigh^ .

Rupert carried her: oiit in his arm^
into a passage} Meeta foUowed them^
and in a few minutes their joint exertions
restored iier to animation. The mother
and , son then pressed^each other in a
speaking ,embrade } Meeta hovered near,
looking with equal intensity of love upon
both, and Icmging to mingle her pure
rejcHcing with theirs.

In the early days of their acquaintance,

Rupert would have made her a sharer in

the scene, by frankly extending a hand^

and drawmg her with brotherly aflfection

L 4

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att4 /; i7Hc::mxKGJ»

into the very chnfamcavilfllhiB itiS>tller}
but now, only a thnlliitgrjbok assured ker,
that in joy or sorrow her fffmpathy mitt
precious to h^ soul.

Meeta's wbde soul feh the agitating
change ; and for a few moments Julian
was forgotten^ her own fiothingness» Ru*
pert's poverty, her past reasonings^ reso-
lutionsy strugglesy all were forgotten it)
one tempting conviction.

Madame Boselheim's geiAle voice
awakened her from her trance : it nttured
words of thiM^kfulaesti and alfeelMil to
her; and^ while it reminded hier to ^k
rest, avowed her own determination c£
watching till morning beside Jali^ to
enjoy more fvHty the certtuhty of his
amendment.

To this advice Meeta hdd nothing to
oppose, except her secret" wiidies to the-
contrary ; and, having returned inta^the
sick room for a moment, to look at the
now-sleeping child again^ she potsoned

f

OF MARtfiNOOft)^. Q^$

a good night to ill there/ snd retired
With her father^ to joiti th« rettiaifld^ l»f
their little household if^ thanks to the
Giver of every blessing.-

■Several hours of profound sleep con«i
firmed the judgment of t>r«^Ofltermann :
Julian awoke the next morning calm and
refreshed. The eruption had assumied a
less inflamed appearance, and the restless
impatience which had hitfierto changed
his sweet temper as much as the cruel
disorder had done his features, was re*
placed by his usual a^ctionatehess^ and
delicate anxiety not to give troublei or
excite pain. He now knew Rupert, and
asked for his governor.

Rupert's lips could hardly frame a
fitting answer j it was necessary to keep
the tender-hearted ciiild in ignorance of
inrhat had happened} and he therefore
told Mm, that the physician as yet would
only let his difierent friends visit him at
distant intervals.

I. S

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S|6 THE VILIiAGE

' Julian trusted in what he heard, and
Wiu; satii^ed ; yelt every now and then,
in his jnnocent prattlings, be naq^ed
his governor, and pierced all their hearts,
by the happy confidence with which he
anticipated^a sight of him ere long.

Noiie, except Meeta, were yet per-
jnktbd to join Madame Roselheim and
Rupert , in Julian's chamber, lest he
m^ht be. led to think his governor's
ex^sion a singular circumstance : her
presence was necessary to assist and re-
lieve this exemplary woman, who could
not both minister to and amuse the
languid child at the same time. Meeta,
therefore, became almost stationary by
his side. .

Ruperfs attendance there could not
be regular, in consequence of the many
serious .arrangements which demanded
him at Mr. Vanderhoven's : but be went
and came oootinuaily ; disclosing in the
unguarded negligence of thou^ts occiir

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OF MARIENDORFr. fS?

pied about others^ yetmoce of.that eil*
bearing diaracter which had won Meeta's
affections*

She meanwhile grew into his heart:
the oftener he felt the influence of her
youthful beauty, the more intensely did
he admire her generouf^ oblivion of that
beauty. When he saw her, as if uncinft-
scious of fatigue or lassitude, passing
from one suite of active attentions to
another ; now performing some duteous
office for her father; then for his mother ;
now pursuing useful needle*work, or
household superintendence ; then beguil-
ing Julian into sleep with some melodious
lullaby ; looking at, and speaking to each
of the dear ol^ects towhom she ministered,
with a voice and eyes that seemed Love's
fountains : and then when he encountered
the vanishing glance of those ejf«s turned
momentarily upon himself; when l^j^lt
their unconscious meaning thrill etery
fibre of his frame ; — he, too, forgot that
I. 6

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SfS TUB TTLLMC

Fortune and a vain-glorioos ^ikdier bad
Mtt him off f jrcon man^s tendereirt^tiMy and
r«Qdered the indulgence of present traM-
port a crime agamsfc future peace.

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OF UARIENDOBPT. J2f&

\

CHAP. VIL

Ik the i^m I^ad6 at Jidiati's sick rooiiir
this mutual atlaehmiBBt thus grew aod
streDgthened ; unseen by others; un*
marked by Madame Roi»eIheim; felt
every hoar mote iiltensely ^by theini^
selves.

The same tender catfes^ the s&me vi«
cissitudesof hopeif aiid fears for;the same
object^ the same habit c^ involuntary'
communion by looks ratheif than by words,
insensibly drew thettt doser togiether^
and established iA^ Hbti of tender con-
fidence iiti ^ach other's s^ntSmentd, which
sometimes* exists between persjdns thuls^
situated, without tomiA aaid e^Kpliclt
declarations

This confidence, without any such in-

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3S0 THE yiL£.AGE

tention on their part, assisted in' deceive
ing those about them: for in^nctively^
aware of being always the centre of each'
other^s thoughts^ they could pass whole
hours in the same place, without ap^
proaching, sometimes without even look-
ing at each other.

' As Meeta became rapturously sensiblb
to the affection of Bupert» she questioned
herself upon the guilt or innocence of
such rapture ; and convinced, that so to
be loved by Rupert through life^ without
seeking more, or wishing more, would
constitute felicity enough for her, she
falsely imagined that such love must be
blameless. /

She forgot, that so ta continue loving
her, he must renounce ^l higher prosr
pects } and that for both of them ta waste
their youth in vain devotedness, would
be to blight every rational and laudable
hope of their parents^

At nineteen^ and in such peculiar cir«-

£^

OOQk

ir
OF MARIENDOKPT. 291

cumstanees; a similar fault may find
mercy*

Muhldenau never came inta the Bick
room, thefef(»e bad no opportimiiy for
particular observation^ of his- daughter ;
and Madame Roselheim, lulled into secu*
rity about Meeta's |^te by her now
tranquillized manner, was too interested
and engaged in attendance upon Julian^
and in conjecturing the probable conduct
of his father, to carry into her convers*
ations with her son, any ideas* foreign, to
these objects of vital importance.

If Rupert appeared more pensive and
absent than formerly, — if he sighe^
oftener, and seemed less inclined to
change of place and pursuits, —it seemed
natural to her, after so much distress^
and in the midst of so many extraordinary
anxieties. Sympathy with her, supplied
a reason for many a melancholy reverie;
diHJng which it liiust be confbssedber
soa was schoolii^ himself for yielding^
to an attachment for which, there could

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t92 tUB VILLAOE

be no end but bitterness. In catmer
times Madame Roselheim would have
read her son better.

Meanwhile^ Julian's safety became
hourlj more decided : the disfiguring ap«
pearances of his disorder began to die
away; he becam§ sensible to pleasure
and old associations ; and the joy of
those near him would have been com*
plete^ had not his longing to see his
govemor, and his pathetic complaints for
fear he had displeased him before he was
sicki rendered it a task of grievous difiU
ciilty to keep the sad truth unrevealed.

It was therefore thought advisable to
reveal the Franciscan^s ifiness to the
child, and tell him it had returned ; thu»
paving the way for a disclosure of the
calamitous fBcU at a later periods

Julian's affectionate lamentation at thi»
information touched every heart, while
he eagerly enquired how long it would
be ere he should be well enough to go
and visit hmu

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OF UAMBXUKMBV. S3S

Dr. Ostermann's iosmer wa» evasive i
for though the danger and virulence of
Julian's malady had ceased^ its en&ebKng
effects still hung heavy upon so delicate a
constitution ; and frequent lapses of con-<
sciousness, nearly amounting to fainting
fits, rendered it necesury ibr s<Hne one
to watch by him day and nighty bs had
been done heretofore*

On the day appointed for Father Jda-«
chimes fiMieral, Meeta took her station
with Madame Roselheim in Julianas
chamber, whef e the latter was to sit up
for the first time* The catholic buryingi*
ground, in which the remains of the
Franciscan were to be d^osited, lay at a
considerable distence from Mariendorpt ;
so that Ruperty who bad gone to pay the
last tribute t^ them, could not be ex-
pected till very late in the day. It was
Meeta's business to amuse away the
child's observation of his loi^jabsence*

She arranged #oOden regiteenti^ of
horse, built castles and churches^ <tf fthells^

rM,'^.

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>
ft94 THE VltLAOE

invented appropriate adventures for those
edifices to figare in, and displayed aH
the wonders of the uMerosot^, to enter-
tain the little convsdescent ) but nothing
eould entirely banish his friend and his
governor from his thoughts. Again and
again he asked, ** Where Rupert was
gone? If his governor were worse ?**
then remarked how much better he was
himself 9 adding^ with sweet attlessness,
«< I shall be weU to-morrow^ shan't^
dear Meeta ? — < and you will take me to
Mr. Vanderhoven's to my governor ;
and you wiU go with us, dear madame ?^
he added, looking smilingly ilp^ kk her
brimming eyes ; '< and we'll all go — * my
dear, dear brother, and all.'' A deep and
obvious confusion crimsoned his pale
&ce, as the last words escaped him ii he
hastened to hide it on Mee$;a's bosom*

** O, I have done wrong P' he whisw
pered, in plaintive accents.

« What have you done,, dear child,
that any one here — "

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^ OF MAAIENDOBPT. 2St(

" I have called Rupert brother/'
whispered Julian, in a yet lower voice;
** and he forbid me ever to do so before
Madame. He never calls me so but
when we are by ourselves ; and then he
calls me his dear litUe brother^ and does
kiss me so l^

Madam^ Roselheim^s quick ear caught
the whde of this artless address, and her
first movement was to quit the i^om-^
but returning ere she reached the door,
(the tears she was flying to hide, falling
from her eyes,) she took Julian in her
arms, and with an expression of unuttep-
able tenderness in her looks bade him
apprehend no displeasure from her,
but continue through life to love Rupert
with a brother's affection.

« In after years,, sweet child," she
added, ^* you will be able to understand
all you owe to that brother, and will pay
him gratitude and admiration, as well as
love."
At that moment the chureh^beli tolUng^

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fid6 ftiB ViLtAdB

for the burial of some obscure parishioner^
seemed tolling alsd for the poor Francis-
can $ and at every return of its deep and
solemn sound, Meeta shuddered audibly^
Madfime Boselheim^ ever awake to the
sensibiKty of others, and remarking
Meeta's suppressed feelings, recom-»
mended her to go and breathe the air
a while, ere the return of her father from
the serious service at which that funeral
bell proved he was officiating^ The lattef
obeyedtf

A long walk tip 2lnd dowti the vine«*
walk, and a longer conversation with her
father, whose mind was calmed and ele-«
rated by the immortal views upon which
it had just been fixed^ restored Meeta to
composure} and having attended upon
bis early supper, and received his bless^
ing, she took her work, and went to
occupy her station in Julian's room.

The present was her night of watching
there, and she hastened therefore to re*
lieve Madame Roselheim^ who had been

..) ii li— Tf**^'

OF MABIBHDOaPT* 9S/7

much indisposed through the day, and
. unequal to her usual exertion.

Meeta stopt when she gained the
entrance of the room; for instead of
finding Madame Eoselheim as she ex-^
pected, bending, silently, and widi chas«*
tened solicitude over the sleeping boy,
she saw by the light of their solitary
lamp, that Julian did sleep, but that
his afiectipnate attendant was thrown
back in her chair, her face covered with
her handkerchief, evidently weeping bit*
terly.

So sacredly guarded were all Madwie
Roselheim's individual feeUngs, that
even her son would have felt an awe of
breaking in upon a lonely moment of
weakness like this. Meeta would have
retired: but her hasty step roused her
friend^s attention ; and the latter imme-
diately recovering herself, called the
other back.

Without attempting tp conceal that
she had been weeping, le9t the attempt

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998 THE tlLlA(^E

dbould argue displeasure at the interrup-
tion and intruder, ibis admirable woman
welcomed her young assistant with one
of her sweetest smiles, saying she was
glad of her appearance, for she herself
was qutte ready for a night's rest, and
meant td retire without waiting for
Rupert

^ My -spirits are much fatigued,*' she
added : «* to*morrow they will be fresh
again, and able to encounter the^ pro-
bable depression of liiy deat «on's« —
I think the mi;^ ^r^m^ort and sadness
of the last few day« have been too much ,
for me : -r- even a book has overset me ;"
and putting down an opened volume
which Meeta now observed in her hand,
she embraced her, looked for an instant
upon the sleeping Julian, and stole out
of the apartment,

It was with no sacrilegious hand that
Meeta lifted the book, which her mater-
nal friend confessed had called forth her
tears. She saw it was one that she her.

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OF MARIEKDOia^. S39

self had been reaiting, and which, of
course, Madame Roselheim had taken
up for want of better employment
while watching Julian's slumbers.

By a strange coincidencei the fabu-
lous story contained in this work had
some resemblance to that of this injured
wife J and the page which was blistered
with her freshest testrs contained a little
poem that must have struck all the
chords of her heart It was addressed
to the innoceBt ofispring of a guilty at-
tachment, hy a virtuous mi^tre^s, for-
^ken for that attachment.

Meeta I^ad ^ead the lines qncie before
with a moderate degree of sympathy j
^he now felt them enter hisr souL Such
force do pur own feelings give to the
humblest .as well as noblest efforts at
describing similar ones! — yet she wept
over them, because they seemed to utter
the feelings of Madame Roselheim, who
was a wife, and believed her , aff^tions
inalienable from him to whom she ha4

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r ,

iworo tbem M; the ajbtar : MeeU could
not quiitQ sympathise with the free maiden
that continued so to love a deceiver,
or a libertine; jlie therefore thought
not of the original story, while she pon-
dejred over the following

STANZAS TO A SLEEPING CHILD.

Sleep^ sweetest b<^ I if thou canst rest
On such a wildly-throbbiDg breast;
O sleep, and may no- dream molest
Thy soft rq>ose I

If ay angels (rom Heaven's niiBost sMne

Surround thee with a love like mine,
'3^f or ever, through long life, resign
Their precioi^scharge !

Ah wherefore start these sudden tears?
Why crowd the shades of former years?
What in that smiling face appears
These pangs to wake?

Alas ! thy very being proves
That he this heart still fondly loves,
Another, to warm passion moves.
And Idng hath moved.

3Let me then quell this weak regret.
My griefs, my wrongs, my jc^s forget.
And be as though I ne*er had met
Thy Other's t^ti^

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OF MAllIEKDORPT. 241

Sleep, sweetest Bpy ! securely ilecp;
(These ey^ will only watch and weep>) ,
Thou needs't not fear the rancour deep

Of jealous rage; ^ .

For thou hast twin'd thee round my heart,
Mth fludi fesisttess, touching art,
That, though at times some tears will start, ,
Some sighs escape;

' I would not wish thou wert unborn^
Far less, in this thy dawning mom^
From life and her who bore thee, torn;—
^^noi liveon.-^-—

As Meeta read tliis efiusion of rooted
affectioii, she sawin idea^ the fostering
arms of Madame Roselheiai» encircling
the unconscious sleeper before her: she
marked her softly-stealing tears» and
heard her: yet softer voice breathing in
low murmurs tliose words of tender.in-
ddlgence and of fond refftei. Her
own tears streamed at the vision; :and
it was not till after many efforts^ she
could banish tzbat iraih of rain and
grievous thoughts, which this; subject
was calculated to produce;- coiinected

VOL. uu M

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24C THE ▼n.LACC

as it WM with the honour, md wdfiue,
imd boMovpeaoe of those deaiest to
her.

AoKMigBt these thoughts, the one
dominantt was a serioas awe of jidding
to a sentiment, which however virtu-
oudy fdt and carefiilly phiced, was per-
haps as wudi to be dreaded as the
spell .of an enchanter: it was evident,
that the sad magic of such a spell, still
hung powerfully on the spirit of the sdf*
dhciplined Madame Rosdheim; and if
tsk her It had ttrangfat. only misery, how
was a crealvre, so &r infiurior as she
w4m nuised thus, to expec^ hi^i^Mneas
flom it?

Meeta's heart then sought its own
vindication in Rupert's exceUenoe, tho*.
roughly«known excellence : but her bet-
tM reason added, that Love had otha*
modes of reodering wretched besides
that of change in its oij^ect ; and tfaat<
if i^ wished to av<oid the pangs of.
sel^rqinacK and utter despair here.-

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OF MAEIBVBOftlT. !M9

after, she must wrestle with the tn^aj
now.

Meeta had just awakened from this
trance of reveries, when a soft slow step
upon the stairs, a well-^known step, made
her heart beat. It was Rupert, imam*
scious o£ his mother's absence, ascend-
ing to revive his depressed qpirits by ite
s^t of her and of Jviiaxi.

Meeta's kindling colour and palpi^
tating breast, as she rose ia cmifimonon
hk entrance, warned him that he nnsib
not stay. She faltered out that hb
mother was already gone to zest, and
their dear charge asle^^ while her eyes
inquired how he bad borne the sad cere*
mony of the day. She meant not to
have looked at him ; but when we love^
the eyes wait not upon die will.

Bupert's sdf-possession fiM*sook him,
as be met ber trembling eye-beams; aod
instead <^ retiring, he advanced a step
while he said, << This has been a trpag
day, indeed^ Meeta j but it is orcar, thank
M 2.

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24i THE VILLAGE

? Qod !*' The deep sensibility of his tone

increased Meeta's agitation, and she
stood silent
* Rupert was then going to quit the

. room, when Julian awoke, and seeing

^ his brother, uttered a joyful exclamation :

his awaking seemed to take away the
embarrassmeni or impropriety of remain-
ing alone with. Meeta, and Rupert ad-
\ vanced nearer.

Julian had a little history to tell of all
that Meeta had done to divert him, and
of i his own strength in sitting .up three
whole hours; in short, many- prattling
nothings, that are interesting when we
love the infant speslken Still, as Ru-
pert would have retired, he prayed him
to stay yet a little longer — only till hiB
himself should fall asleep again.
' With a languid smile, and something
\^ like a blush, Rupert threw himself
on a. seat next to Julian's bed, while
Meeta involuntarily drew further back,
aud pursued her work with closer att^n«

IL

;:oc<?!e.:u -ft^

OF MAHIENDOUPT. 945

tion. Yet she spoke, and that much,
and with the hurried manner' of one
who talks from mere confusion.

" Surely that fine embroidery must
make'youic eyies ache by this feeble light,"
observed Rupert: " had you not better
take a book, if you must sit up lio-
night?'*

«* O no, I cannot; this, work must
•be — .'* Meeta had begun precipitately
to answer, and she stopt as suddenly.

Rupert was silent ; he . remembered
former conversations with his mother:
in an instant he comprehended that it
was by private toils like these, she; and
Meeta made up for the added expendi-
ture of Muhldenau's household,; in con-
sequence of Julian's illness. That con-
viction, the pride.it pierced, the ten-
derness it roused, the light it flashed
over both their situations, did more.tl^an
all his former reasonings to show tlte.
utter madness of yielding to the fond
passion wliich the events of the last fort-
M 3

^•.^^^ ^

Sogle

646 THE VILLAGE

night had so powerfully increased in his
heart. Their mutual poverty stood visi*
bly before him, a phantom more ghastly
than death itself.

He drew so heavy a sigh, that Meeta
started and looked lip : the fixture of
hiis eyes, the profound sadness of their
expression, there was no mistaking ; and
even at the moment she half-admitted
the belief that he was about to own his
affection, she felt that there was no
indulgence of such ah affection in his
coiitemplation. The blood retreated
from her cheeks and lips at this conr
vicHion; tiben rushed back to them
again in ibller tides, as she hastily re-
sumed her occupation, and hurried out
some information to Rupert about the
chaniber prepared for him.

The purposed hint roused him from
his stupor, and he then bent to bid
Julian good night. Again' the little
creature, already half asleep, murmured
out a prayer that he would stay, and

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Of MARISNPOEPT. S1^7

Stretching a hwd to each of his dear
attendants, promised to be fast a&laep
again almost directly.

With the coaxing pertinacity of a sick
and loving child, he insisted upon i^tain-
ing their hands till he should fall asleq^^
and while both, with a tremulous em»
barrassment which deprived them of pre-
sence of mind, remained standing, im-
prisoned by his feeble gfiasp^ they saw
sle«p gradmUly settling once more upon
his eye4ids. Meeta waited only for
another instant before she released her*
self; but ere she was aware, Julian's
relaxed band let hers dr6p suddenly
upon that of Rupert. At the touch of
that hand, a strange dizziness came over
her: Rupert's soul was in tumults: the
lovely confusion of her laokii increased
his heart's beatings } and all at once he
caught her hand in his. He would have
pressed it to his lips; but« recollecting
himself, he exclaimed in a thrilling
tone,— ^

u 4

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24f8 THE VILLAGE

^ « O Meeta, would to God I might
«r0lftifi this dear haod for ever! — but I
know it cannot be.-— My lot is poverty.
«-Soine haf^ier man-^/^ Rupert ut-
l^re^ thes^ iH'oken word» with a pas-
£i0nat& Vehemence, a convulsive qukk-
-iiess unlike his usual manner.
' Meeta heard him in silence : an emo-
-fion, at once blissful and agonizing,
trembling (through her whole frame ; her
colour fluctuated, while alternate throbs
oJ£ pain and transport possessed her Jieart;
but, as happy emotions died away, and
sad onesprevailed, the vermilion of her
cheeks disapipearied, and the paleness <^
decith settled upon her featui|s. ^
^ Bklsbes speak ; glances spcw^ ; but how
•equivocatty, compared with a total change
of complexion ! Slight emotions are ca-
pable of calling the blood into our face,
but they are profound ones which send
it to the heart ! '

Rupert needed no worded avowal of
Meeta's sympathy; that flushing and

OF MAmSHDQRPT. 249

lading cheeky ^wl the cold hand which
now shook Iwithin his, told of. a; devoted
love, which but for wpnaan's .modesty,
had confessed that beggary with hiin,^
.were happiness to her. ■ : .■ ■.^.

- Tearing himself with powerfal mastery
from the dangerous contemplation of her
looks, he suddenly relinquished her hand.
" Meeta, farewell !'* he cried j " you shall
see me thus no more. I am betraying
your father's confidence in me -^ wrong-*
ing you and myself. Never, never,
again !"

• His soul seemed rending from him in
the sigh that burst forth with the la^
words, and, closing his eyes, as if, to shut
out the dangejcous sight of her answering
emotion, he rushed from her presence.

Meie^ta.had known some moments of
powerful, emotion ; joy, nay transport
she h^d known ; grief to agony : bjut, till
this moment, never had she felt what she
could iieither haye called joy nor sorrow.
The explicit declaration of Rupert's
M S

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S50 THE VILLAGE

attachment contaiiied every tbhig her
artless heart desired; but there came
with it a sense of "tnong in calMng it
forth — a pang of remorse for rejoicing at
what, must give grief and disappointment
to his suffering mother. She remember-
ed former magnanimous resolutions, now
broken ; vows of self-conquest imide in
secret by the side of her honoured filths ;
ally all, canceUed by this moment of
weakness. She had listened to Rupert's
tender apostrophe without* reproving, or
attempting to interrupt him : she had
done worse ; she had suffered him to see
4iat her destiny was in his hands ; that
her perseverance in a coarse of self^
command depended upon his. Even the
rapture of knowing herself the chosen of
Rupert's heart, was lost in the humiliation
of this idea; and she could no otherwise
silence the just alarm of her virgin deli*
cacy, than by reiterating fonder resolu*
tions more earnestly fhan ever; and
promising irom this hour to avoid even

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OP MAEIVNiXMlPT. Sffl

bift loidci^ with the ftm<»nty of cine b«ftt
upon repairing a heinou8ffao]& . \ : '.

Happily^ her h^ajtt acquitted her of
treacheiy to Adolpha Fatkedb^g. Thfe
new light her father's renmrks had thtown
upoft that en^giAg; yoilng woman's
leelings, hadstifengthened by subMquerit
reA&siifm'i and ndairly satisfied of his
conjectuife being ft right one» she had
long oeMed to consider Adolpha's happi-
ness as in any way dependent upoii the
afiectioiis of Rupert*

With throbbii^ pulses^ Meeta now sat
down to review the whole of her past
conduct* and see herein she had faSied
most, to obey the implied wishes of
her beloved Madame Resdheimt and the
^cbortations of her own principle That
^e had not (sufficiently guarded her soul's
seerety was too evident, since he^ from
whom^ of all others^ she. had hitherto
wished it hidden, addressed her rather
^th moumM confidence in the nmta^
M 6

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252 r THE VIILAOE

ality of their affection, than with timid
doubt of jt» return.

^ ' It was in viam thai the weaker half of
her mind pleaded the agitating events of
the last fortnight in excuse fw some sur-
prises of feeling} she was inflexible to
herself; andw(Mre away the night, during
which Julian slept blessedly, in alternate
determinations to/ e£Su:e her fault, and
supplications to Heaven for power of
ihind to fulfil them.

When Rupert and she ^ met the next
morning in the presence of her father,
the. countenance of the former was sad,
Serious, yet composed : his manner was
the same. > .

Meeta felt all thisrwithdut having once
ventured to glance at him : so subtie, so
mysterious, are the mutual intelligences
of the master passion! And though the
colour fluttered in her cheek, like the
pinions of a dying bird, she endeavoured
to mould her words and actions so as to

^r^- -^ '*

OF MAftlEKOOKPT. S59

Assure bim tfasit she wished not to bend
him from his just purpose, but rather
sought to maintain her own claim on his
respect by proper firmness on her pai^jt^

Rupert understood her ; and perhaps
his resolves were shaken by the evident
nobleness of hers. He sighed to think
that he must think of her no longer;
and, feeling his soul falter, he hastened to
strengthen it anew in the society of his
mother,

A few moments with her suflSiced to
restore Rupert's better spirit. He hludh*
ed at the merely selfish wishes his fancy
had lingered rouiid; and, while regarding
the sacred duty he had to fulfil towards
this suffering Tnbther, the wounds his
tender cares must close, the. consdttions
to which he must dedicate himself, »e
he could atone to her for the wrongs,
committed by his fatfaw, he wondered
how he could ever have allowed himself
to dream, for an instant^ of love's eardily
paradise.

k-

c!i^_--. ^zedl^ Google

£54 THB niiLAOfi

The discoujrse of the mollier and son
on this morning was principally confined
to the sad subject of Father Joachim's
dtBikf and the^ ctraimsta»ee$ consequent
upon it* To disooufse more freely» they
withdrew to a lower room, (Meeta having
come into Julian's chamber to aSoftd them
that freedom,) and there Madame Rosel^
heim learnt, that, in conformity with hejr
early advice and the dying request of
the Franciscan, the priest who had acted
as bis confesior, and officiated at his fune-
ral, was gone off that very morning with
all speed to the Count of RUnegraves-*
tien, the bearer of a letter written at
intervals during Father Joachim's illness,
which, Rupert doubted not, made honomv
Me mention^ of. his friends at Marien-
dorpt, and contained matter concerning
Julian.

In repeating this to his mother, Rupert
could not refrain frMi adding^ that» ten*,
derly as he loved Julian, he should re-
joice if the bearer of this letter returned

j^lfcuf*^,^..^- - ninitizfiri hv C -lOOQi C ■

OF MARISNOOBPT. US

with oewB of the little prisoner's ex-
changer Gladly would he now pbe^ the
summaiis to give him up ; since the an-
guish he had endured during the bo^s
illness^ lest he should die in their hands,
and so leave an undeserved stain upon
their name, was beyond the conceptioq
of any other human being than his mor
ther herself*

<< I, too, would rejoice, my son,'* 8ai4
Madame Koselheim, her eyes floating in
tears of concern, << if, when we surren-
dered Julian, I could think that we were
sending him where he will be as happy as
he is lYith lis. But I am wrong to con-
jecture his mother's character. — Heaven
will make the t>ther heart, the tenderer
to him, doubtless if hers is—" Madame
Boselheim passed her hand over her eyes
as she interrupted herself, and smiling
pensively, turned from the image former
partiality had conjured upi to the subjec|;
of her son's health*

4 ' ^

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056 THE VILLAGE

She had now liberty to attend to that,
she said, siiice the more pressing claims
of the Franciscan, and his young charge,
were over ; — the one, how blessedly \ the
other how mournfully over ! She ques«
tioned him on his sensations, rather than
on his faded looks and spirits; for a
changein both erf' them, she couldnot won-
der at ; and as she remembered all that
his health had owed formerly to the skill
and kindness of the departed monk, she
gave a fuller sigh to his memory.
» Rupert, in reply, assured her that he
had not been unmindful of himself
during his attendance at Mr. Vander-
hoven's } for that, eager to return to his
duty with the army, he bad continued
to follow, as well as he could, the rules
laid down for him by Father Joachim ;
and had occasionally taken the ad view
of Dr. Ostermann, when the instri>ctions
of the other were no logger to be at-
tained.

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or MARIJENBORPTr 2^

He besought her also to believe, that
the man who had gone through mor&
than two weeks of confineiiient in the
noxious air of an infected chamber, ha-
rassed with grief and pei'plexity, and af^
terwards condemned to witness the sad
and solemn sight of a death-bed^ with-
out mortal injury to himself, should no
longer be considered as one unfit for
the encounters of a camp.

He in treated her to rely on his as-
surance of feeling quite competent to all
the duties of his military station, and to
allow him, therefore, to think of rejoining
his regiment at no distant day.

Madame Roselheim looked earnestly
on her son ; she sighed once or twice ;
and at last, gently doubting his judgment
of his own case, remarked that he must
be actuated by some additional motive,
besides that of mere eagerness to return
to his regiment, since it was too probable
that after he should reach the camp be

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JS£8 TB£ TILLAOK .

would Bod himsdf incompetent to aetive
service*

Rupert ownedy he was so actuated^
and, trying, to keep down Im swdUng
heartt confessed that he felt ashamed of
having sp long lived upon the hospitality
of the minister of Mariendorpt. It is true,
that nearly the whole of the young sol-
dier's pay had been frankly accepted by
Muhldenauy to swell tfa^ family stock of
income ; but Rupert was aware, and he
knew his mother must be so too, that
even so, he had not indemnified Mubl*
denau for the many minor indulgences
which that amiable man had gratuitously
sought for his guest ; and for the ex-
tended expenditure of his household, in
consequence of Madame Krazau's occa-
sional visits, and Julian's Illness.

For the latter, however, Rupert al-
lowed that the Franciscan had lefl a large
sum of money in his hands, to be used
for the purposes of the Fatheir's decent

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-^^ ^

Of MA»nN90EPT. 999

aepttlteure, and for the payment of any
4ebt9 incurred on his pnpil's acoount.
JBat there are numberless trifliag ex*
pences which kindness induces in for
otbeiiG^ that are neither capable of exact
calculation, nor strictly chargeable as
^ebts, yet which severely strain the nar*
row means of the very man who would
vpum the offer of their re-payment $ and
Rupert felt that, rather than have such
repaid by the Count of Rhine^ravestein,
to any friend whom his mother might be
supposed to influence, he himself would
sell the very sword by which he was to
hew out his own subsistence.

With hesitation at first, and finally
vnth a degree of energy unusual to his ,
gentleness and gaiety, the son of Rfaine«-
gravestein confided those senttmeats to
his mother. She was deeply affected by
them. She had hitherto h<^ed that such
considerations might not strike her son's
mind ; and yet, painfoUy alive to them
herself, secretly resolved upon the aak

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^60 T0B VILLA€£

of* a favourite and valuable memorial of
former daysy to ibdemnify her generous
friend for his eXpences, and reward his
domestics fot their cares for Julian.

Unable to .offer a single objection to
Rupert's arguments, aiid further moved
by his serious assurance, that if he hoped
to secure any military expectancy, he
must endeavour to ^each the Swedish
head-quarters, ere Marshal Torstenson
should leave them ; she yielded herself at
once to what seemed inevitable; but,
regarding him with eyes that dissolved in
tears as slie gazed^ she exclaimed,

" Be it so. — I resign you to glory and
— danger again I But; O, my Rupert, so
much dearer th^^ever, how shall I bear
to part with you ?'*

<< By thinking that it is for your son's
good, my motlier,'' he whispered, fold*
ing her in his arms, and printing a light
kiss on her cheek. << Must I own that I
am not proof again&t a danger you do
not seem to have dreamed of? — Believe

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07 MARI£NO0fiPT. S6l

me, I ought not to stay in this house

much longer."

: The colour mounted, even to his tem-^

pies, as his mother, starting back in his

arms, and comprehending at once what

he meant, cast on him a surprised and

afflicted look.

, He pressed her again to his breasts

*< Be not too much alarmed for me/' he

said, forcing a playful smile ; <* 'tis as well

to fly the danger a man foresees.''

Madame Roselheim tremblingly dis-
engaged herself from her son's arms,
and «unk down upon a seat. Sudden
faintness was visible in her paleness and
respiration ; but she waved him off with
her hand, when he would have lifted her
lifto the air, remaining some time with*
out the power of speaking.
. " Dearest mother! do you doubt your
son's conduct ?" asked Rupert at last,
uncertain what to understand from her
long silence.
^ .« Poubt ypu, my Rupert J" The voice

^GooqIc

369 7HK VXLIiA<»

in viich she echoed this question, Ae
smile, the eye*beam which accompanied
it» needed no explftnation, and her son
folded her agdji to his grate&l heartr

An afibciing, almost a seiernn pauaa
ensued. Rupert then satd, ^ I have
ahockedyou more than I expected ; but
indeed you need not fear any imprudence,
or giving way, on my part *— I can yet
trust, mya^lf $ • so you nuiy trust me sfciH^
dearest nmther^"

: <« I am sure I may/' Madaaie RoseU
heim returned^ witht an immediate finn-^
liessy which elevated the ezpressibtt of hec
whole countenanoe $ ^* there » no other
Hg^ wanting to guide your eooduet to«
wards yourself and others, than yom: own
right mind, *— that will teach yiou to
hold the peace of this house sacred ; your
mother need not show you faosr to act
I grieve most for «f~- '^ Madame Ros^
heiin checked her tongue,^ ere it tittered
any thing that might betray the seoU*
ment of Meetn ; and vainly al%empttng

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OP MABI£KIKIftPT. 263

t4» nnile, the added, with increased emo**
tion, <^ I can have sd wish but tot the
happiness ^ you both: and, if pray^*s
might obtain it, my son, in the way
you Wish — ^ never till now have I felt adl
the cruelty — the barbarousness -i^ O my
wronged Rupert !"-<K-her voice exf^red in
tears, as the conviction of her husband's
UQ worthiness pressed on her with full
force for tiie first ttme in her patient
life. To pardon that husband, appeared
at this moment a crime against her vir«
tuoiis son; and, afticted beyond all her
farmer aiUctions^ she covered her face
mth her handfcerehief, and wept aloud.

Rupert wrucfg and kissed her hand
alternately; besought her to dismist
such ineless regreta; prayed her to
pardon him ift>r aiiudiug to a wea&nes^
wlii«h perhaps heooght to have smothw*
0d in i^ilencd ; uttered spme animating
prMiges^ of his own fimie or fortune;
«od giradi»«)iy soothing her by hjf Mendect

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Q6i THE VILLAGE

tenderness and cheerfulness^ into some-
thing like composure, withdrew from
the subject which had caused all this
pain, without* having opce named the
unconscious object of their joint in-
terest.

In making what may seem this un-
neceasdry confession to his mother, Ru-
pert \irad. actuated by the sume principles
and habits which had prompted him to
avow the .forbidden feeling to Meeta
herself.

It was ever his wish to be thoroughly
understood by those he loved and lived
with ; and perhaps without formally rea-
soning upon the subject, he had felt,
with regard to Meeta, that it iieere better
to qonfess his affection for her, and his
conviction of its imprudence at the same
time, than by the change of manners
he must subsequently ado|^ leave her
tp' despise him for caprice ; or what
would be yet worse, allow her romantic.

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- OF MARIEN1>0RPT. 265

and dangerous ingenuity to imagine
reasons for. the (Jhange^ foreign irotn the
truth, . ^

Rupert's heart was not one of those
wilful ones which refuse to accept any
compensation for theii: fullest desires.
If he might not secure Meeta*s love, he
felt that to retain her esteem would be
a blessing of no mean value.

Candour only cotild do that : and,
relying Equally upon the justice and
tenderness of her nature, he assured
himself that she wouM pardon him the
frailty of sufiering the 'affection she
created; to change its frateimal character
for otie of a more agitating nature. He '
felt that she would acknowledge the'
chain of necessity in which a hard
fortune bound him; and admit that
every principle of filial tenderness, gra-
titude, and humanity, called on him to
sacrifice selfish desires, when they niili*^
tated against the .sacred claims of his"
mother. '

VOL. III. K

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9S% 'SUE YILLA0E

If, as he had for some time thrilliDg]^
idtf without dwelling on it^ Meeta's
heart had proceeded in the same erring
path with his own> the avowal of his
love, so accompanied, would but save her
from the hazard of increasing her own
weakness by those alternate fits of
doubt and convictioui of perplexity and
confidence, which alarmingly fan the
fire pf love ; she would at once know
what was the sentiment he felt for her.;
and learn that he believed self-command
incumbent on them both:-*- she would*
opnsequently, take as decided a part as
he did, having the same feeling to ani-
na^te her— -the honourable pride of
making a great and laudable sacrifice.

In his conversation with his mother^
Bupert had treated the subject lightly ;
that is, he had but touched it. Some
hint of his inmost feelings was necessary^
that she might not increase the difficulties
of the task he meditated, by ignorantly
thwarting his efforts. But it was useless

vGooqIc

. OF MAJHENDOBPT. 267

to. tell her how deeply those vain wishes
were ro<rted in his breas£» which he meaat
to' tear thence^ thoagh at the cost of
half his youthful happiness. ,

Madam Roselheim- s penetration^ when

once awakened to any object, was '^

acute as her delicacy was perfect. She

withdrew investigation and lamentation

from the subject of her son's unfortunate

prepossession, as immediately as he

seemed to desire; while, at the same

time, many a bitter remembrance^ many

an anxious endeavour to reconcile im«

possibilities, contended in secret with

the sober convictions of reason and

experience. So truly did this admirable

woman love her son, and the endearing

young creature who had hitherto been

to her as a daughter^ that could she at

that moment have purchased mutual

happiness for them by resigning her

own life, cheerfully wopld she have done

I so. But such purchase was impossible ;

» and in forbearing to combat Rupert's

N 2

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268 THE VILLAGE

heroic resolution^ she "was restrained
solely by -considerations for the fiiture
gobd of himself and Meeta ; by gratitude
towards the unsuspecting Muhldenau ;
and by pity for innocent children yet
unborni

Of MA&IRNPOBPT. ^69

t

CHAP. VIII.

In consequence of the explanation with
his mother, Rupert had free leave to
expedite any business with which he was
concerned at Mariendorpt. Some little
time was necessary for the arrangement
•of his own immediate wants, when re<-
moved from under a tender mother^s
eye ; and ere he departed, he believed it
his duty to superintend the purification
and re-establishment of Mr. Vanderho-
ven's house, so that its worthy master
'might return to it unfearing.

The obligations he felt to that gentle-
man hung heavily on his heart ; for they
were such as he might never hope to
repay. They consisted, not merdy of
unbounded hospitality to strangers for
K 3

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S70 THE VILLAGE

hii^ sake, but of personal agitations ifi«
curred through those strangers, for which
no future services of his could be any
compensation ; — - of inconveniences and
disagreeables sustained through them,
which might well try the Christian tem-
per of one hitherto accustomed only to
ease and security* Nothing that Rupert
opuld'do from himself^ was jeveri likely
to bear any proportion^ to his gratitude
on thisc occasion } but hc'dodbted-not,
t^at his father^s gratitude, added to his
magnificent habits, would dkiplay itself
in some splendid present, . calculated to
form a lasting memorial of their mutual
obligation, and so prove a source of par-
donable pride in the friends and relations
of that truly good man.

With this, view, Rupert had exhorted
the priest, who was gone. to the Count
of Rhinegravestein, to detail at length the
disinterested goodness of Mr. Vanderho-
ven ;, to dwell upon the. painful dttcom-
forts. which, hi^ hiimanity had entftiled

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OF MARIEKDOldPT* ^7^

upon him;, yet distinctly to state that
neither that gentleman^ nor any other of
Julian's friends in Holland, must be
shocked by the offer of any pecuniary
compensation whatever.

The individual expenses, both^ of the
governor's and pupil's illnesses^ such as
physician's fees, &c. together with
those incurred by the former's death,
would be defrayed unhesitatingly out of
the fund left by the Franciscan ; and di
the overplus, returned to the Amster-
dam Bank, in^ the name of its original
owner.

Rupert could not hope to be stilf^ at
Mariendorpt when this messenger should
return from his Other's camp; but he
daily expected Areniberg, and to his
friendship he meant to consign the exe^-
cution of the concerns he must leave
unwound up. In his especial care, it was
his intention to leave Julian, until the
vexa^l^us disputes about the exchange of
i;fae little creature were settled : an event
IS 4

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27* ^HE VILLAGE

seefningly as^ remote as the p^ace itself,
which had now been negociating for
three years at Munster, even while the
armies of the different, powers represent-
ed there, were continuing to deluge Ger-
inany with their blood.
- ,; During Father Joachim's mortal illness,
Jlupert had often thought of his absent
friend, -without onqe wishing for . him*
A death-scene, where the holy office of
%hfi latter was not c^led into action, was
doubtless tlje very last, in which th(>se
who remembered Aremberg's early his^
tory, desired to see him.

Amongst the miseries, therefore, of the
two sick chambers, one theme of glad-
ness and gratefulness presented itself in
hrs qljsence, — the providential depar-
ture of the two Danish ladies, ere Mr.
Vanderhoven's house became a place of
trouble and daiiger.

In those days the upoertain modes of
communication, not only between the
inhabitants t)f different countries, but

OF MABSBNDORPT« ^TS

Vetw^en those who lived under the same
government^ obliged every one to exercise
much patience oot the. subject of travel-*
ling friends. Thus» the dwellers at the
Parsonage having once.bidden Aremberg
good-bye, did bot hope to hear either
from him, or; of his interesting com?
paniOnsi until they should behold him
again.

At Utrecht, Mr. Vanderhoven doubt-
less thought of jittle else, wished for
little else, than his nephew's return :
but, at Mariendorpt, a;nxiety had but two
important objects for awhile ; and it w^
not until the one was raised from the
bed of death, and the other laid in his
grave, that even Rupert ventured to wish
for, or permitted himself to think con-
stantly of Aremberg,

Expecting him now every hour, he
was exceedingly disappointed, when in-
stead of his friend, he received a letter
from him, purporting that the latter
having had th^ satisfaction of conducting

N S

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27* THEVILLAdfc^

the ladies under his charge safely fa
Alsace, was at. the moment of writing
on the point of crossing the Rhine, and
making a short excursion into Suabia ^
tempted, be said, by the vicinity of the
;Swedisb camp, to revi«it his fripnda-in
Marshal Torstenson^'s division, now cam-
paigning there, and learn the military
news of them for his friend.

Rupert was not blinded by Aremberg's
slight mention of this excursion; he
guessed that it was made^ solely in the
hope of serving him. And indeed if
Aremberg were to find Marshgl- Tor-
stenson still with- the troops, his repre*
sentations in his friend's behalf might be
more effectual than any the latter could
urge for himself; for neitiber delicacy
nor self-distrust is^ould fetter his tongue.

It was not a sense of obligation that

pressed upon Rupert at this moment ; it

was the genial glow of affection felt> and

afiection demonstrated.

' He communicated the letter, and the

vGooqIc

OF MAltI£in>OIlPT. ^15

iBelings: consequent upon it, to those
around him, and the pleasure these dif-
fused, was the &&t entirely pleasurable
ray that had gilded thetr dail^ened house
aince the death of Father Joachim.

There was nothing in the letter, how-
ever, that in any way tended to confirm
or destroy the conjectures of Muhldenau
with respect to the state of the writer's
heart. Meeta was mortified when she
read in it only a few very template,
perhaps she h<^ed,- guarded' expressions
of satisfaction at having conveyed his
charges safely, and seen them placed
in a beautiful resic^nce in Lauterbourg.
But she fi^rbore to make the observation
toherfaliber ; never, indeed^ introducing
subjects of delicate interest to that
honoured parent, unlcfs he invited their
discussion ; and perhaps; fearful of dis-
covering her own secret, -by displaying
too perfect' an acquaintance with the
sentiment under survey.

Her own secret, however, ever sinci
K 6

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"^.

S76 THE VILLAGB

the agitating explwAtion from Rupert»
Meeta bad guarded with trembUng vigi-
lancei even from him. She now, curbed
the eager zeal with which ishe used for-
merly to start up to perform, some of those
Httleservices for Rupert, which the habits
. of domestic ^miliarity enable one member
of a family to perform for the othess.
She forbade her lips to make admiring
comments on his conduct: nay, she
forbore to ask his sympathy even with
her eyes, wheYi some beautiful passage in
a book, or some interesting trait of cha-
racter, excited her enthusiasm, or started
her tears.

Above all things, she conquered her-
self on the subject of Rupert's depar-
ture. . Alas ! she could not command her
looks, when that event was first talked, of
before her } but she quelled her words,
her sighs, her tears : she consented to
appear dead or senseless^ m^ rather to
hear the piercing news in what might
seeim unfeeling silenpe, than, by a falter-

'^' i'iiE,2a 111 I I ^

OF MARIEKPORPT. 277

Jt^ accent, disclose what was passing in
her souL

Rupert^s outward composure rivalled
hers» — possibly exceeded it Man's hap-
pier hardihood of nerves and complexion
render those emotions imperceptible in
him, which the transparent and fedbler
structure of woman, shows with the dis-
tinctness of material objects through
crystal. Rupert therefore seemed un-
moved* when his whole heart was pene-
trated with fond regret : often, when his
hasty glance surprised a tear in Meeta's
averted eye, he would fancy it sprung
from his supposed indifference^ and the
tender gratitude, that fancy inspired, as
often cost him, either after repentance for
having yiel^^ to it by a speaking sigh
or whispere&otice, or led him to cen-
sure .4iimself dill more severely, for too
ruthless ^ perseverance in self-deniaL

Madaine Roselheim, meanwhile, was a
silent, a sorrowing, and gratified observer
of all this. If any thing could console

'^^t.M . '." ' Digitized'S^^bogle

S80 Tflffi VILLAOB

never permit her son to revisit Marien-
dorpt.

Great was the sacrifice: but it was
due to the misuspecting parent of the
poor victim in question : and Ma-
dtme Roselheim felt) as if by making it,
she atoned in some degree for the wrong
unintentionally committed by her son,
against his peace.

Confiding in the integrity of Rupert,
and the filial sense of Meeta, Madam
Roselhelm gladly obeyed the delicacy
smd tenderness of her own nature, and
forbore to enforce the necessity for their
mutual perseverance, except by that
mode of gentle insinuation peculiar to
her indulgent manner.

A remark dropt concerning others in
similar situations; — a word that might re-
awakra watchfulness of themselves when
theirs was accidentally lulled to sleep;
— ^ a glance at her son ; or a commission
instantaneously invented, to. remove
Meeta from a dangerouli situation : — >by

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OP MAAIKNXKIIU^. 981

such acts alone, did this judicious mother ^
and friendi think proper to touch the
shrinking wounds of two ingenuous
hearts.

But, though she spoke not oh the sub*
ject to Meeta, the latter had a perpetual
consciousness of moving without a veil,
before those equally honoured and mer-
ciful eyes; and the consciousness,
though painful to modesty, acted as a
support and a stimulant to heroism.

The detour, projected by Arembero^
towards the Neckar, was not of any
great length; so that the inhabitants of
JMariendorpt concluded he would be soon
amongst them. And as Mr. Vanderho-
van had not yet found himself in suffi-
cient spirits to re-enter his house again
after the melancholy event which had
taken place in it, Rupert was induced to
linger a while lohger, to lawait the re-
appearance of the one, and to pay a brief
visit to the other.

Meanwhile he neglected nothing that

f.

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S82 TBE VILLAGE

might repair his shattered strength ; and,
when he was not devoting himself to the
amusement of his convalescent brother,
he rode into ||)e country, or rowed upon
the canal, or assisted in scmie homely
labour of the field or garden^ for Esther's
servicer.

By this course he strengthened, while
he occupied himself; and in spite of
many a mental pain, his mother had
the joy of seeing his cheek gradually
re^^^olour, and his graceful figure resume
its fulness of fine proportionr

Julian, too, hourly improved i» health,
hi& tender skin resumed its whiteness^
4>ut its level smoothness was no more«
The marks of the cruel^ disorder which
had spared his life, were still there^
and for tlie whole of that life.

As Madame Roselheim folded the
little creature to her breast, she did so
as often in paroxysms of regret, as of
fondness.

Extreme beauty, indeed, was defaited ;

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09 MABJENDORPT. 283

but there was something dearer now
in those features than beauty itself, ti^
They told the tale of many a sorrow- • )f
tng hour, many a tranwortiDg .. hope ;
of sufferings alleviated;, agonies wept:
they recalled. . asking looks^ piteous
tones> never to be. remembered without
feelings, of the intensest gratitude for
the pangs of the moment in wUch
they, were heard and seen». having passed
away.

Thus endeared hy a variety of asso*
ciated recollections^ and by the very
depth of their compassion, Julian seemed
daily to acquire fresh influence over the
happiness of Mariendorpt. His youi^
heart had received and hardly recovered
the shock of hearing his governor's
death : and though, perhaps, so infant
a. mind could not quite take in the
solemn meaning of the. word " death,*'
a vague impression of grief, aod awe, ^
and loss, was made on.it, which added

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S84 Tte VIU.AOB

a bewildered feeling to the natural
weight of sorrow.

Yet| frequently^ Julian forgot the sad
event, and |poke of his governor as
. alive i especially if he saw any objects
they were used to remark together :
and then, perhaps, stopping short in his
animated exclamations, the ready tears
would gush over his cheeks, and bear
witness to the affectionate sensibility of
his nature. However indistinct might
be the images of death and desolation
which now haunted the little creature's
heart, it was evident that although they
might indeed but appear and vanish like
spectres, they left sadness and thought-
fulness behind them.

Rupert saw that this first great sorrow
would colour the whole of his brother's
life, by giving a pensive shade to his
character; and he could not repress a
sigh, therefore, when he made the re-
mark to Muhldenau.

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OF MAEIBKDORn. $85

« He will be only the better man fot
it,*' was the good minister's just and con*
soling answer.

Those few words gave him to whom
they were addressed, a theme to ponder
on ; and sending his mind's eye forward
through the long vista of time, be con*
jectured Julian's future destiny.

Taking along with him the conviction
of that amiable child's sensible and grate«
ful disposition, his active imagination,
his tremulous tenderness, and his obe*
dience to authority, Rupert fancied:
many a difilcult situation for him, arising
from the deep impressions of the present
period, and the jarring duties of one yet
to come,

Rupert had however so firm a per«
suasion of Julian's natural and acquired
inclination to all that is right and kindly,
that he felt convinced he never would
do aught, of himself, likely to cause a
pang to those from whom he would
hereafter be separated wholly. The

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386 THE TILLAOl

paradise of that pure bosom might he
broken in upon by sorrow, but never
trodden down by sin.

So, at least, our hero thought : and
feding his love for this dear brother in-
crease with the circumstances which
were likely to tincture the latter's cha*
racter and fate, he ventured not to
imagine the perplexities and pains of his
^ own and his mother's situation, when
afiection would yearn towards the house
they must never enter more,, even to
seek Julian.

How different was that second-sight of
bis own and his brother's fate, which h^
had beheld on the banks of the Regen
five years ago! — an obscure monastic
life for himself; — one of unbroken high
fbrtime for the new-born heir!
r^The storms he then anticipatei^ for
Julian, were those of the passions only;—
such passions as power may be expected
to engender, and slaves to foster. The ^
trials and triumphs he looked to for

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OF KA£U£KDOaPT. 287

himself^ were merely spiritual warfare
and victory over those imperious pas-
sions in his brother's breast. He dreamt
not of a time like the present, when his
own armed hand would place the person,
nay, life of the innocent usurper of his
rights, at his mercy, and bestow on him
the godlike. power of* succouring, where
be was expected to strike.

As Rupert dwelt on these contrasted
views of imagination and reality, his
awed and grateful spirit bowed before
that gracious Providence whose decrees
seemed to ordain that Julian's earliest
deep impressions should be such as were
likely to counteract the baneful influence
of future prosperity. And it waii with
something like filial pride, that jdie son
of the injured Madam Rosdheim Ihou^t
hmv many of that interesting child's best
impulses in maturer age, might be trace-
able to the sentiments excited by. her
conduct to lum now, and his grateful
memory of it hereafter.

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288 THE VILLAGE

'^:^f Such was the only revenge Rupert
wished his mother to take over the proud
woman that had supplanted her ; such the
only course he wished pursued to bring
his father to repentance* His heart
might be grieved, shocked, alienated by
his kind; but neither outrage nor wrong,
could te^ch that heart to hate.

Three weeks had passed since the in-
terment of Father Joachim, and Arem-
berg still remaining absent, Rupert
fixed the time for hh own departure ;
and went to Utrecht for a couple of
days, to see Mr. Vandeiiioven : that gen-
tleman not feeling inclined to return
into his melancholy mansicMi, until his ^
nephew should be there to. welcome
him, aqj^dispel its gloom.

Rupert reached his*^ home -- perhaps,
it should be said, the Parsonage ~- at so
late an hour of the night, (having ridden ^
from Utrecht, and been detained on the ^
road^) that he expected to find the fa-'
mily gone to bed : but the moon glisten-

15

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OF MARIEIfDORPT. 289

iiig on all the windows of the lonely
dwelling, shewed him that the shutters
were not yet up.

He checked his horse as he came in
sight of it, to contemplate the picture
formed by the irregular vine-covered
bouse itself, with its accompaniments of
shrubs, grass-fields, and water : all thesQ
features increased in picturesque ef-
fect, by the byoad masses of moon-shine
and of deep shadow, which covered
them.

Rupert was such a passionate lover
of peaceful landscape, that at any time,
a house standing alone, so that it had
gable ends and large trees near it, and
was seen by moonlight, caused him an
emotion of pleasure : how much more
charming was the present picture in his
eyes, Associated as it was with the dear
and delightful enjoyments of home!-r-
He curbed the sudden thought, that he
would soon be far from that home, and
all whom it contained ; and Tatber ex-

VOL, III. o

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■V

f90 THE VILLAGE

pecting that he should find Arembei^
there, just returned, rode into the sta^
ble-yard, where he put up his horse
himself, and proceeded through a side-
door, into the inferior quarter of the
house.

The first person he saw was Esther :
her troubled look and disturbed com-
plexion, caused him a momentary alarm.
" Is any thing the matter?** he asked,
yet without waiting reply.

« Stop, Sir — stop! till I tell you,**
exclaimed she, seizing his arm with one
of those strong grasps, which there it
no resisting without violence.

Rupert paused ; but, instead of dis-
tinctly saying what had occurred, the
half-incensed, half-afflicted creature be-
gan such an anathema against the in-
famous pair^ who, she said, would eiid
by murdering her Lady, and by whom
Rupert well knew she meant his Father
and the Countess, that his impatient
fears could be endured no longer, and,

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OF HABIENDORPT. 291

breaking from her hold, ^e hurried, all
eoflstemation and apprehension, at once
into the common sitting-room.

He found there, only Muhldenau him-
self, walking to and fro, with a fixed
flush upon his cheek j a sign of inward
disturbance unusual to his countenance.
He saluted Rupert by an exclamation of
satisfaction at his arrival, which some-
what re-assured the latter ; and he asked
therefore with less trepidation than hp
had done of Esther, whether his mother
had heard any distressing news ?

Muhldenau then saw, that he was pre-
pared for something unpleasant; and
quieting his strongest apprehensions,
that had her for their object, told him
as briefly as possible, the cause of their
present agitation.

" Julian," he said, " had been forcibly
carried oS, not four hours before, by
three men, muffled and disguised*
These persons had appeared suddenly
from the water at the bottom of the
o «

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J. < ■

292 THE VILLAGE

garden where Madame Roselheim was
walking with the child, after the heat of
the day had ceased ; and were so quick
in their movements, that her first sight
of them was at the instant they snatched
Julian from her leading hand ; and though
she called loudly for assistance, and wildly
attempted to rescue him, they escaped
with their prey, into the boat whence
they had come ; rowing away with an
e^cpedition which might have baffled pur-
suit, had one been made immediately.

But against this chance of detection,
one of the ruffians had provided efiectu-
ally, I^ striking Madame Roselheim so
severe a blow upon the head, that she fell,
completely stunned, to the earth. She
was hot discovered till supper-time ; when
Esther, going to remind her hdy of the
hour, found her in the situation described.
She was, of course, directly borne into
the house, and there, busied in restoring
her to life, wild with grief and perplex-
ity, it was some minutes before either

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OF MABUNDORPT. 293

Esther or Meeta thought of Julian.
Whqn on sending into the garden for
hioiy it was seen that he was no-where
•to. be found, new terrors seized them ;
and the belief that he must have fallen
'into the water, and so occasioned tb^
swoon in which Madame Roselheim lay,
gave.the perpetrators of this daring out-
rage,, longer time for escape. . ' -

Qa this dreadful imagination, Meeta
sent : for her; father; who was at a
ni^ighbOuriiiig farm-house baptizing an
infant: 'ere he had returned with the
messenger, Madame Roselheim came to
herself.

-*fi^ i a c imes ^nrst appeared to wander ;
perhaps they did so in reality : and when
she more collectedly accounted for her
stupor, : liy mentioning the blow she had
received, though that was: necessarily
, coupled with the information ^of Julian's
seizure, Esther had no thought beyond
procuring assistance for rher dear lady ;
3nd Meeta's faculties were so confounded
o 3

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994f TB£ VILLAGE

by the atrocity of the act, and its pro-
bable consequences to those she loved
best, that she did not recover any thing
like rational consciousness^ until her
father appeared*

"*- Muhldenau^s first step was to have
Madame Roselheim's head examined by
a proper person : happily, it was found
that the blow in aid of acute mental
agony, had stunned, without inflicting
a greater wound than a very severe
bruise. After satisfying himself of this,
he hastened to the legal authorities of die
village, to lay information against such
unknown persons as had carried off Ju-
lian : doing this, less in the -injpts ot re«
covering him by such means, than with
the intention of warding off from Rupert,
any suspicion that he had been induced
to connive at the ^cape of die prisoner.

Rupert, therefore, had the satisfaction
of knowing that every right step had been
promptly taken ere he arrived ; and that
was some alleviation of the grief and

f

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OF HABIBirDaXPT. 99^

dinaay with which he listened to this
painful rektiocu

While MafaMenau narrated it» our hero
Iktifiedhis lively interest in what was
«aid, rather by looks than words. He
stood before him, with brows sternly
bent i lips strongly compressed ; a conu
plexion varying with every deep and in*
ward breath he drew ^ expressing uncon*
aciously by the convulsdve action of his
now clasped and now opened hand, a de-
gree of burning yndignation which no
circumstance of his own life had ever
caused him to display.

Mnhldenau had from the first assured
him that fas mother was rather agitated
than injured J so that Rupert was able
to en^re every particular of the infa-
mous tomsaction ere he sought herself.

Tho&e enquiries satisfied, and pressing
the good minister's hand in sign of Uvely
acknowledgment, he went directly to his
mother's chamber.

He found her up, with no other
o 4

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S96 . THE VILIiAGE

change made in her dre^ than the siib*
stitution of a closer cap liian that which
she ordinarily wore through, the day.
Madame Roselheim's cares were ever iut
her son ; and she would have fear^d^ to
shock him, had she suffered him to find
her in bed. > . • ; :

- 'Except, thei'efore, from a look of un-
conquerable languor, and a more touching
sweetness in her smile, as she saw him
enter, he might have fancied her spirits
dn their usual state. , ,

Such forbearing goodness pierced to
his inmost soul j and while, he. took the
dear, hand $he held, out to him, the
glance he exchanged with Meeta, wh6
stood behind her chair, m^de the latter
thrill. There was a determined senti-
ment in this glance, which, seen in an-
other man's eyes, would have made her
sensible, that he who looked thuS,wias; re-
solved on some signal vengeance. Such
an expression so exceedingly changed
his countenance, that even his mother
18

1^ ■
i'

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OF MABIBNJ>ORFT. ''&H7

^as Struck by it ; and her first words
were a prayer that he would not pre-
judge any one: assuring him that now
she had recovered the shock of the mo-
ment, she felt the blow was not worth
remembering; and that she only wanted
to know if Julian were indeed in safe
hands, to be reconciled to what had oc-
curred. " O my mother 1*' was Rupert's
impetuous answer } '^ can you doubt what

hands have thus basely good God !

that I should live to speak thus of -•*'

' " Rupert I my son !" — Madame Ro-
selheim exclaimed^ interrupting the
name that he was on' the point of utter-
ing. Her accent was piteous and depre-
cating, and her ey^s cast a troubled
,glance towards Meeta.

Meeta understood their mute expres-
sion. Sacred to b^ was that fidelity
to a duty, w^ich permitted none^ to
raise the veil from her husband's faults j
and hastily retreating from the place she
occupied, she vanished from the- apart-
o 5

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SdS THS VILLAGE

ment Left alone with her son, Madame
Roselheim at once repeated all that
Muhldenau had previously detailed ; but
softening every part likely to irritate her
«on, concluded by exhorting him to
waste no time upon unnecessary anxiety
concerning her, but hasten back to his
re^ment, that he might be the first to
give information of what had happened,
and to invite inquiry into his conduct.

Rupert's soul was so completely dis-
turbed, and his mind bewildered, that
for some time, his only answers to her
judicious and tender counsel, were alter-
nate bursts of grief and indignation,
while revolving his father's probable
share in the transaction. All at once,
a new light flashed upon him ; and rb-
collecting several detached and ambigu-
ous sentences uttemi by the Franciscan,
during the unsettled state of his faculties
while ill; remembering his unaccount-
able uneasiness about Julian, at a time
when his confidence in those about

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OF MAfiZENOOKPT. 1209

him appeared the strongest ; he felt
convinced that the integrity of that -ex-
cellent man had been tampered with,
by s<»ne emissary of the Count or
Countess Khinegravestein ; and that
the sekure of Julian was only the ter-
mination of a long-contrived plot

Such a violation <^ all the laws of ho-
nour aad war, after the solemn pledge
given in his illustrious master's name
by Father Joachim j such a base return
for perfect generosity; such a wanton
destruction of a son's fortune and good
name, by an act which might implicate
the one, and probably ruin the other, —
perhaps, never was known in' the annals
of disgraceful atrocity, Rupert felt that
it had struck the last blow to his^ filial
love for a parent, whom hitherto he could
contemj^ate in his public relations, with
unalloyed admiration. As a soldier, ho-
nour unsullied, bravery and military ge-
nius rarely equalled, rendered Rhine-
gravestein's name, one Which even a
06

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300 . THE VILLAGE

wronged son might be proud to hear :
and, though his private conduct must
ever sink that son's heart with griefs as
the majority of the professors of the Ca-
thoh'c faith looked on this foul part of
their hero's life, rather as a beam than a
blot, Rupert might still allow himself the
merciful and pious hope, that it was prin-
cipally the act of a misguided opinion of
duty.

Agitated as he was at this moment, it
was impossible for him not to express
these bitter feelingg to his mother, and
that with a passionate vehemence, which
she saw myst be permitted to exhaust
itself, before any reasonable attempt
could be made to calm him.

When mild natures are completely
roused, they are more difficult to com-
pose than such as are habitually fiery :
perhaps it is, because with them the heart
is stung, not the temper; or, because
having no suspicion of themselves, they
give way without caution to the sudden

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OP MABI£NDORPT. 801

impulset and are lOBt in its Iterce vortex,
before they are aware that they touch
its verge.

Be that as it may^ the patient and
cheering Rupert was certainly trans-
formed into another. man for a while, byt^fd'
those accumulated: causes for indigniu
tion which the present juncture furnish-
ed. The personal assault of his .mother ;
the barbarity of tearing an innocent child
away, while yet but imperfectly well ; the
probable foul coi^||^ct of his father ; and
the possible suspicion which might at^
tach to himself, were individually and
separately, enough to distract his whole
being: their force, thus combined, was
beyond human nature to resist.

After repeated exclamations agatnsf:
the perfidy of which he was likely to be
the victim in the point dearest to every
honest .man, his reputation, Rupert's
e;£pres8ions and gestures gradu^y be-
came less impetuous, and a melancholy
gloom took place of the fires which had

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-~1

802 *^ THB VnXAGB

darted from his altered countenance.
He drew repeated sigte, and cast himself
all at once into a seat.

Madame JELoselheim now si^ed the
moment for sootiiing and enlightening
htm* She had known Rhinegravestein in
die brightest day of his honour, and she
was firm in her avowed belief, that how-
ever ambition, or a guilty preference,
or a mii^uided conscience, might lead
him from the path of what he con-
sidered his duty in pobeate life, he was
incapable of consenting to any act
which could stain his reputation in the
eyes of the puUic.

Poor, indeed, she admitted, is the sub-
stitution of honour for principle : but
though its root be in man^s opinion, not
like principle, in the law of God, its pro-
tecting shade is better than the naked
sterility of <^p^i baseness ; and ahe who
had oiy?e loved Rhinegravestein as a n^o-
del of every thing magnanimous and angi-
able, could not believe that all the beauty

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OP MARUNDOBPT. SOS

of his character yfm defaced, with its
sterling value.

She urged this sentiment upon her
son, adding, with many a sighing peti-
tion to Heaven tor pardon if she judged
erroneously, or from a rival's preju^j^,
that she could only lay this dark trans-
action at the door of Rhinegravestein's
present countess : that as she had given
no pledge, peiiiaps it would not be right to
condemn her as severdy as they must have
done her lord 3 that a mother's impa-
tience and apprehension for an only child
might perhs^s deserve mercy ; that in
short, the Franciscim's reserved mode of
mentioning her, and the decided tone in
which he always spoke of her lord's grate-
ful sentiments towards Julian's friends at
Mariendorpt, tended to OM'roborate her
idea that the whole plot was conceived
and exeoMted by her, and her emissaries
only.

¥ime would show, Madame Roselheim
said, whether slie were justified in thus

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>

304 THE VILLAGE -

rather imputing ill to the (:hara$ter. she
knew no praise of, than fijdng it on ope
she believed excellent still, in parts.

<< If I could think your father oftpable
of such a flagrant act," she said, in a
XttC^ so faint and interrupted, that it
seenied scarcely an attempt at utterance,
f* that moment would be the last of my
life. — I can forgive much against my-
self — but against you! — No, -op,, my
son \ I could not survive such an assassin-
ation of your peace and honour."

The deep aad solemn a;filiction dT her
manner dfectually recalled Rupert io
himself: and smoothing his ruffled brow
with one of those sunny smiles, which
opened heaven in his face, he took her
hand, acknowledging the culpable rash-
ness of his decision against a parent ; yet
confessing, that until the latter's igno-
rance of the nefarious plan wye made
as clear to the world, as he now hoped it
might be made to himself, he should
scarcely knaw how to lift up his head in

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OF HAaSBKDOaPT. 305

honourable society. To vindicate his
own chBracter/ was however the first
thing be must think of ; and he tenderly
warned his mother^'^that^he must pte-
pare for his almost immediate departure
to the camp, in that intention.
' Madame Roselheim had n6t a wish to
urge a. single objection i and having suc-
ceeded in her aim of pacifying his appre-
hension of a double. disgrace in his own
and his father's person, her l^art invo-
luntarily reverted to the situation of
Jnli^.

The piercing cries of that'^lovihg and
terrified innocent, returned upon her
sende, as she recalled the moment of his
seizure by the fiercest of the ruffians:
$he imagined his grief and alarm, when
he should find himself alone with such
wretches; and trembled to think how
fatal a ^n the frightful business might
give to his unsettled health. A single
Convulsion fit might end his shoit life at
once; or inflict a heavier calamity -*«

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906 . TMA ▼XEXAflDS

idiptbm for life. At the l»t horrid, yet
natural imagmation, such a mortai agony
appeaared on ber cooBtena&ce, and such
a death4ike cry escaped her, that her
aon, fearing hoth were the effects of the
blow she had hitherto treated lightly,
conjured her, in the name of God, to
say what occasioned them^ and, wrapping
his arm round her, with looks of frantic
despair, besought her to answer Mm.

Madame Roselheim .tried to recover
herself, and assuring him it was not bo*
dily pain which moved her thus, dmply
named the Teal cause. Maddened anew
by the certainty that all this suffering
came from the same quarter, Rupert
flamed afresh, exdaiming vehemently,
'< They shall dearly accouiot for this V^
— * thai recollecting that his fiU;her was
implicated in this threat, be drew a
deep sigh, and covered his facQ^with his
hands.

Madame Rpedheim could see by the
moisture which penetrated even through

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OP MARIBKDORPT. 907

his closed fingers, that her son was shed-
ding tears:*— she believed those tears
would relieve him; and withdrawing her
floated eyes from his desolated figure,
she leaned her head against his side, in
dejected silence*

When Rupert removed his hands from
his face after a long interval^ he looked
at his mother, and was instantly struck
by her increased paleness and fainter re-
«piration. << Qood Heaven ! bow am I
to leave her I'* he exclaimed— then
addfaig in the tenderest tone^ << You suf-
fer, dearest mother ! — I see you suffer !
-— the ruflSans!"

By a strong eBbrt Madame Roselheim
raised her face from his side, where she
had hitherto supported it ; and assuring
him that her head ached less from the
blow, than from fatigue of spirits, told
him th^l; for once in her life she should
be the better for knowing him away
from her ; and desired him thei^ore to
fix his own hour for^ departure*

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308 THE VILLAGE

To leave his mother before he had
acquired greater certainty as to the slight
nature of her hurt, was not possible to
Rupert ; and after several contradictory
resolutions, he decided upon staying out
the nighty to see how she might feel in
the mbming : then, if the surgeon con-
tinued to pronounce the injury unim-
portant^ he would set forward without
jdelay.

Again, 4nd again, he deplored the
absence of Arembetg, to whose calm
sense and de^p feeling, he could have
confided hw, as to another son* And
from Areinberg's generous friendship,
he would have been content to receive
for his mother, aU that Muhldenau'^ slen-
der means could not aff<Nrd ; supposing
her ftefta. might eventually require more
expensive, because more skilful advice,
than what their village could furnish.

Penetrated to the soul by the certainty
of his own limited means, by bitter re-
gret for the loss of Julian, by all the

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OF MABIENDORPT. 909

train of evils likely to follow the pre-
sent affliction, Rupert's countenance as
Meeta re-entered the room on his call,
shewed that he believed all his halcyon
days were over. He was so pained, in-
deed, by his own distressful anticipations,
that he spoke to her without seeing her.

Meeta felt this, as his eyes passed over.
her face without looking one ray of
tender consciousness : she was transfixed
by the observation ; and ignorant that the
image which engrossed his senses, and
barred outward impressions, was the only
one she could have pardoned for so esc-
cluding hers — the dread of disgrace —
she was sensible to a pang of inexpres*
sible anguish.

Rupert had so immediately returned
into his own miserable reflections after
having called her, that she stood a mo-
ment or two before him without speaking
or being spoken to. But when she asked
him, in faltering accents, whether he
thought Madame Ros^lheim worse, the

I ' r I, iiir"^^Q#

SIO THB VILXAOE

sound of her voice at once awoke his
heart; «id such a light of love and
sweetness broke through his clouded eyes,
that Meeta forgot they had the moment
bjefore, met hers in silent darkness*

He took her hand, and as he pressed
it earnestly and fondly in both his, he
too^ forgot that he had determined never
to press that hand so again.

"I am going to leave my moti>er,
Meeta,*' he said, " do you be every thing
to her that I cannot be when far away."

Meeta neither spoke nor raised her
eyes; for like his own, her heart was
too much engrossed by regrets and fears
for the same objects, to have sufficient
strength for the instant mastery of its
tenderest impulses. An almost imper-
ceptible return of his hand's pressure, was
her sole answer ; after which, blushing at
her own boldness, she went up to where
Madame Roselheim was now sitting, or
rather drooping, exhausted by recent ex-
ertion, and besought her to go to bed.

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OF MARIEKOOBPT. 911

Madame Rosdheim confessed her want
of repose ; and, charging her son not to
waste the hours needful for the refresh-
ment of hia. strength, in vain conversa*
tions, or in musings over disagreeable
remembrances, obtained his promise that
he would go immediately to his chamber.

A silent and fervent embrace testified
Rupert^s obedience, as he directed his
thrilling eyes once more towards Meeta,
who directly cast down hers : for though
she had not the force to reprove this
second glance of undisguised tendemesst
she felt that it was her duty to avoid it.

The next morning, haying found Ma-
dame Roselheim only slightly feverish,
the pain in her head abated, and her
spirits calmed, Rupert felt relieved from
some part of the heavy load which weigh-
ed upon his souL Having one great
pbject in view, the vindication of his own
honour, he lost sight of intermediate
things, such as time and distance ; saw
only the termination of his long journey;
17

vGoo^e

312 THE VILLAGE

and thus parted from his mother and
Meeta, with a previous occupation of
thought, and a deadness to present im-
pressions, which oflen amazed him to
remember in after days.
: Graciously did Providence so diminish
tlie sorrow of that moment to them all !
for each individual to whom his presence
was bs^piness, counted the instants till
he had left them ; impatient of any delay
which might compromise his fair fame,
and cover them with despair for having
detained him.

Thus, without tears or sighs, did Ru-
pert say farewell to Mariendorpt j to the
bouse which had been to him as a home ;
to the mother he loved beyond his life ;
and to her who could not be dearer than
that mother, b i jvhose looks, whose
tones, whose romantic devotedness, thril-
led his whole being with a more transport-
ing sort of tenderness.

Thus did these objects of his love, give
him the last embrace, and the last long

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OF MARIENDORPT. 313

look with the same tearless stillness;
and it was not until they heard the last
sound of his horse's echoing hoof^, (for
he travelled partly by land, for the sake
of expedition,) that returning into the
house^ from the door where they had
parted with him, they felt the necessity
of relieving their oppressed and aching
hearts, by floods of tears.

END OF THE THIRD VOLUME,

vox. III.

w

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Printed by A. and R. Spotdswoode,
Printerft-Street, London.

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